I Hate Summer 2020

Comedy

Box Office

$8.9M

Runtime

105 mins

Language

Italian

Directed by

Massimo Venier

Made by

Medusa Film

Test your knowledge of I Hate Summer with our quiz!

I Hate Summer Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for I Hate Summer (2020). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

[Aldo Baglio], [Giovanni Storti], and [Giacomo Poretti] are three very different fathers from Milan. [Aldo Baglio] is a seemingly lazy hypochondriac who is always on sick leave, married to Carmen, and a father to three children. [Giovanni Storti] is a meticulous and irritating perfectionist, married to Paola Storti with a teenage daughter Alessia Storti, and he runs a faltering family-owned shoe-accessory shop. [Giacomo Poretti] is a work-obsessed dentist, married to Barbara, and stepfather to twelve-year-old Ludovico, who often withdraws into video games.

The three families travel to a southern Italian island for their summer holidays, only to discover they accidentally rented the same house. The local carabiniere advises them to share the home rather than start a bureaucratic battle, and the tension eases a bit. The agency later offers an alternative, but Salvo, Salvo Aldo’s son infatuated with Alessia, rejects it without telling anyone. The island scene begins to blur the lines between mishap and fate as each family tries to find its footing in this unlikely coexistence.

As the vacation unfolds, each family’s hidden problems surface. Giacomo is secretly coping with a lawsuit he has just lost after injuring a patient. Giovanni has decided to close his shop without informing his family and disapproves of Alessia’s relationship with Salvo. Aldo, who seems carefree, is under pressure from Carmen, who fears he is hiding something from her. The shared space forces confessions and small compromises, revealing how fragile the façade of calm summer life can be.

Forced to live together, the three men gradually bond. They search for Aldo’s lost dog and later chase after Ludovico, who has run away to meet a pen pal in Follonica. In that seaside town, [Giacomo Poretti] helps bridge the gap with Ludovico, who decides to stay a bit longer with the pen pal’s family. The experience softens the sharp edges each man wears at home, and a surprising camaraderie begins to form among the fathers.

Meanwhile, their wives also grow close and indulge in carefree moments, while Salvo and Alessia’s relationship deepens against the backdrop of sun and sea. On the return trip, the group stops in Santa Marinella for a concert by Massimo Ranieri. Thanks to an old favor, Giacomo gets Aldo onstage to sing with his idol, a moment that fulfills Aldo’s lifelong dream and creates a shared memory for all.

Back on the road, Aldo falls ill and is hospitalized. The truth he has kept hidden is finally revealed: he has a terminal disease and asked to spend his remaining time in joy, simplicity, and ordinary moments with the people he loves. In the end, the three families—now closer than ever—return to the island to watch the summer fireworks together. Aldo’s voice-over closes the story with a paradoxical line: he hates summer, but only when it ends.

I Hate Summer Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of I Hate Summer (2020) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Vacation begins with a shared island home

Three Milan families arrive on a southern Italian island for their summer holidays and discover they have rented the same house. The surprise forces them to rethink how they will spend the season together. Tensions are avoided for the moment as they settle in and try to make space.

Start of vacation Southern Italian island

Carabiniere's advice and the shared arrangement

The local carabiniere suggests that sharing the house is the simplest option, and the agency's alternative is rejected by Salvo. The families realize they must cooperate rather than compete. This uneasy compromise marks the first step toward an informal camaraderie.

Early days of vacation Island residence

Giacomo's lawsuit aftermath

Giacomo is secretly coping with a recent lawsuit he has just lost after injuring a patient. The setback weighs on him and colors his interactions with the others. The burden he carries becomes a quiet undercurrent in the unfolding drama.

Early vacation Giacomo's dental practice

Giovanni's secret plan to close shop

In Milan, Giovanni decides to close his family-owned shoe-accessory shop without telling anyone. He also disapproves of Alessia's relationship with Salvo, adding tension to the already fragile family dynamics. His decision hints at deeper worries beneath his meticulous exterior.

Pre-trip / during vacation Milan

Aldo under Carmen's pressure

Aldo appears carefree, but Carmen pressures him, fearing he is hiding something. Their conversation hints at a hidden truth that could derail the holiday if it comes to light. The couple's tension foreshadows a forthcoming revelation.

Early vacation Family home

Forced proximity and budding camaraderie among the men

Forced to live together, Aldo, Giovanni, and Giacomo gradually bond as they navigate their personal troubles. They share chores, worries, and small adventures, realizing they might rely on each other more than they expected. The uneasy coalition starts to feel like real friendship.

Mid vacation Island house

Dog hunt and Ludovico's escape to Follonica

The men join in a search for Aldo's lost dog, a distraction that brings them closer. Meanwhile Ludovico runs away to meet a pen pal in Follonica, testing the adults' commitment to the children. The chase becomes a catalyst for cooperative problem-solving.

Mid vacation Island; Follonica nearby

Giacomo reconciles with Ludovico in Follonica

In Follonica, Giacomo reconciles with Ludovico, and the boy decides to stay a bit longer with his pen pal's family. The reconciliation marks a turning point in Giacomo's stern exterior. The trip evolves into personal growth for multiple generations.

During stay in Follonica Follonica

Wives bond as families grow closer

The wives Paola and Barbara grow closer, sharing laughs and carefree moments while supporting their husbands. Salvo and Alessia's relationship deepens amid the changing family dynamics. The women’s companionship mirrors the men’s evolving bond.

During stay Island

Santa Marinella concert on the return trip

On the return trip, the families stop in Santa Marinella for a Massimo Ranieri concert. Giacomo uses an old favor to get Aldo onstage with his idol, fulfilling Aldo's lifelong dream. The moment provides a bright, hopeful interlude before the emotional weight of what follows.

Return trip Santa Marinella

Aldo's illness revealed

Back on the road, Aldo falls ill and is hospitalized. The secret finally surfaces: he has a terminal disease and wants to spend his remaining months in joy. The revelation casts a new light on the vacation and the choices everyone makes from here.

After Santa Marinella stop Hospital; en route

Final reunion and fireworks

Back on the island, the three families reunite and watch the summer fireworks together. Aldo's voice-over reveals that he hates summer, but only when it ends, delivering a poignant ending about mortality, friendship, and shared happiness. The summer closes with a quiet, united acceptance of life’s fragility.

End of vacation Southern Italian island

I Hate Summer Characters

Explore all characters from I Hate Summer (2020). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Aldo

Aldo is presented as a seemingly lazy, carefree father who often stays on sick leave. Beneath his easygoing exterior, he hides a terminal illness and a wish to spend his remaining time with his family in joy. His relationship with Carmen reveals his devotion to them, even as he resents being questioned.

😌 Carefree 💊 Illness hidden 👨‍👦 Family man

Giovanni

Giovanni is a meticulous and irritating perfectionist who clings to control over a faltering family business. He disapproves of Alessia’s relationship with Salvo and keeps his own troubles private. The shared vacation pushes him toward vulnerability and growth.

🎯 Meticulous 💼 Family provider 🧭 Controlling

Giacomo

Giacomo is a work-obsessed dentist who worries about a recent legal setback after injuring a patient. He is protective of his wife Barbara and cautious about his stepson Ludovico. The trip loosens his grip enough to reconnect with his family.

🩺 Work-obsessed 👨‍👧 Family man 🎭 Hidden vulnerability

Paola Storti

Paola is the patient and steady wife of Giovanni, the quiet backbone who keeps the household afloat. She navigates the holiday chaos with grace and speaks up when needed, revealing her own concerns beneath a calm surface.

💼 Calm 🤝 Supportive 🧭 Steady

Barbara

Barbara is Giacomo’s anxious wife, protective of Ludovico and wary of the ever-changing family dynamics. She seeks stability and safety for her family while grappling with her own worries about the future.

😟 Protective 🧠 Anxious 💑 Family matriarch

Ludovico

Ludovico is a withdrawn twelve-year-old who retreats into video games. His quiet openness hides a longing for friendship and a sense of belonging within the blended family.

🧒 Introverted 🎮 Gamer 💭 Reserved

Salvo Baglio

Salvo is Aldo’s son, secretly infatuated with Alessia. He acts as a bridge between the families, caught between teenage romance and adult tensions, and learns about responsibility during the trip.

💘 Infatuation 🧭 Impulsive 🤝 Connector

Alessia Storti

Alessia is Giovanni’s teenage daughter, torn between her relationship with Salvo and her family’s expectations. She slowly opens up to new possibilities as the holiday unfolds.

👧 Teen 💖 Romantic spark 🔄 Open-minded

Carmen

Carmen, Aldo’s wife, is patient but wary that her husband is hiding something. Her fears push her to seek honesty, while she also finds warmth and humor amid the vacation chaos.

❤️ Wife 🕵️ Suspicion 🫶 Supportive

Massimo Ranieri

Massimo Ranieri makes a cameo as himself during a concert the families attend, giving Aldo the chance to share a stage with his idol and fulfill a long-held dream.

🎤 Celebrity 🌟 Cameo 🎶 Music

I Hate Summer Settings

Learn where and when I Hate Summer (2020) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

The story unfolds over a single summer holiday in contemporary Italy. Days drift between the beach, road trips, and family discussions that spill into the night. The countdown to Aldo’s secret reveal adds a poignant urgency to the season.

Location

Three Milanese families vacation on a sun-drenched southern Italian island. They accidentally rent the same house, forcing them to share space and confront hidden problems. The island’s beaches, small towns, and lazy summer pace provide a backdrop that heightens both humor and tension.

☀️ Southern Italian island 🏖️ Summer retreat 👨‍👩‍👧 Family vacation

I Hate Summer Themes

Discover the main themes in I Hate Summer (2020). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🤝

Family Bond

The three families are forced to coexist, and the shared confinement gradually breaks down barriers. Through humor and mishaps, they discover trust and mutual support. The vacation becomes a turning point where old resentments give way to closer connections.

🔍

Hidden Truths

Several characters conceal painful realities beneath cheerful façades. Aldo’s illness, Giovanni’s pride, and Giacomo’s legal trouble bubble to the surface as the holiday progresses. The plot uses the forced proximity to reveal what each family fears to admit.

💔

Vulnerability

The carefree veneer of summer breaks apart to expose vulnerability and mortality. Aldo’s secret reframes family dynamics and prompts acts of care that were previously unimagined. The finale ties together loss with a reaffirmation of love and unity.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

I Hate Summer Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of I Hate Summer (2020). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the sun‑kissed stretch of a southern Italian island, three very different Milanese families converge on a single, picturesque rental house, each hoping the summer will offer a brief escape from their daily routines. The island’s laid‑back rhythm, fragrant sea breezes, and colorful market streets set a backdrop where ordinary worries can feel both absurd and tender, inviting a tone that balances gentle comedy with heartfelt reflection.

Aldo arrives with his endlessly patient wife Carmen and three lively children, embodying a seemingly carefree spirit that masks deeper layers. Giovanni, a meticulous perfectionist, travels with his wife Paola and teenage daughter Alessia, his precise nature contrasting sharply with the laid‑back summer vibe. Giacomo, a work‑obsessed dentist, brings along his anxious wife Barbara and stepson Ludovico, whose retreat into video games hints at a yearning for connection beyond the screen. Their children, Salvo and Alessia, already feel the pull of youthful curiosity, while Ludovico hints at an inner world waiting to be explored.

When the locals suggest sharing the house rather than sparring over paperwork, the families find themselves thrust into an unexpected communal living situation. The cramped yet charming rooms become stages for comedic misunderstandings, tentative camaraderie, and the slow unraveling of each family’s hidden friction. The adults, accustomed to managing their own households, must navigate a new dynamic where personal habits collide, while the younger generation discovers common ground in games, flirtations, and shared adventures.

The film thrives on the gentle humor of mismatched personalities learning to coexist, the warmth of spontaneous seaside outings, and the quiet moments when strangers begin to feel like friends. It captures the essence of a summer that is both a refuge and a catalyst—inviting viewers to wonder how a handful of strangers can rediscover joy, forge unlikely bonds, and perhaps find a brighter version of themselves beneath the bright Mediterranean sky.