''Echoes of a Summer'' is a 1976 Canadian-American family drama film directed by Don Taylor, based on the play ''Isle of Children'' by Robert L. Joseph, who also adapted the screenplay. It stars

Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and the hono ...

Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. He appeared on stage and in many films, notably as Corrado Zeller in Michelangelo Antonioni's '' Red Desert'', Frank Machin in '' This Sporting ...

Lois Nettleton Lois June Nettleton (August 16, 1927 – January 18, 2008) was an American film, stage, radio, and television actress. She received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won two Daytime Emmy Awards. Early life Lois Nettleton was born on Aug ...

Brad Savage Brad Savage (born December 9, 1965) is an American actor and singer best known for his role as Danny in the 1984 movie ''Red Dawn'', for which he received a nomination for the Young Artist Award in the category "Best Young Supporting Actor in a ...

, and

Geraldine Fitzgerald Geraldine Mary Fitzgerald (November 24, 1913 – July 17, 2005) was an Irish actress and a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame. In 2020, she was listed at number 30 on ''The Irish Times'' list of Ireland's greatest film actors. Early li ...

. The film follows; Deirdre Striden (Foster), a perceptive 11-year-old girl with an incurable heart ailment. Her mother, Ruth (Nettleton), wants to continue to take her to new doctors, although she knows that treatment is futile. Her father, Eugene (Harris), thinks she should be at their lake house, living in denial of her condition. It is only through her friendship with her 9-year-old neighbor, Philip (Savage), that Deirdre is able to honestly face the reality of death. ''Echoes of a Summer'' was released in limited theatres in Canada in April 1976. Although mostly dismissed by the critics and audiences at the time of its release, the film was notable for an acclaimed performance by Foster, who also had her breakthrough that year with four prominent releases, including ''

Taxi Driver ''Taxi Driver'' is a 1976 American film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader, and starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, and Albert Brooks. Set in a decaying ...

''.

Plot

The eleven-year-old Deirdre (

) suffers from an incurable heart condition. For two years, her parents Eugene (

) and Ruth (

) have consulted heart specialists – but without any success. Now they have gone to

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia Mahone Bay is a town on the northwest shore of Mahone Bay along the South Shore of Nova Scotia in Lunenburg County. A long-standing picturesque tourism destination, the town has recently enjoyed a growing reputation as a haven for entrepreneur ...

to ensure that her last days are as pleasant as possible. The nine-year-old neighbour boy Phillip (

) is the only one who brings a little happiness into the home, since Deirdre knows exactly what is wrong with her. After she suffers from an acute attack and the end comes faster than everybody had thought, Deirdre and Phillip succeed anyway in celebrating the twelfth birthday of the girl as a day of joy.

Cast

- Deirdre Striden *

- Eugene Striden *

- Ruth Striden *

- Sara *

William Windom William Windom (May 10, 1827January 29, 1891) was an American politician from Minnesota. He served as U.S. Representative from 1859 to 1869, and as U.S. Senator from 1870 to January 1871, from March 1871 to March 1881, and from November 1881 ...

- Dr. Hallet *

- Philip

External links

* 1976 films 1976 drama films American drama films American films based on plays Canadian drama films Canadian films based on plays English-language Canadian films 1970s English-language films Films about death Films directed by Don Taylor Films set in Nova Scotia Films shot in Nova Scotia United Artists films 1970s American films 1970s Canadian films {{1970s-drama-film-stub