Midsummer in Newtown

When Newtown, Connecticut, was devastated by the loss of 20 first graders and six adults at the hands of a shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the world looked on in horror unable to fathom such a tragedy. In the emotionally powerful and uplifting new documentary Midsummer in Newtown, filmmaker Lloyd Kramer gains intimate access to three families who find hope in the transformative power of the arts.

Anchoring the film is the story of two Sandy Hook Elementary School students, Tain and Sammy, who join an exuberant cast of Newtown children — bringing healing to their young lives and to their community by staging “A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a freewheeling musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy. Kramer follows the indomitable cast from pre-audition jitters to the triumphant opening night, where the children’s unwavering spirit steals the show. On a parallel track, the film also explores the world of Jimmy and Nelba, grieving parents determined to honor their beloved six-year-old daughter Ana who was killed in the 2012 school shooting. While Nelba focuses on helping children, Jimmy — a Grammy®-nominated jazz saxophonist — channels his grief into music he writes and performs.

A poignant reminder that there is heroism in simply living each day, Midsummer in Newtown is a soaring testament to the artistic expression of people determined to reflect love and beauty, in spite of the horror they’ve endured.