A coming-of-age tale on the island of Puerto Rico. Told in Spanish with English subtitles, Summer of Three follows Javi (Marcel Ruiz) after he returns to the island for the first time after moving to Los Angeles. While reconnecting with his family and preparing for a funeral, he meets Luife (Paolo Schoene), a rule-breaking, free-spirited, life-of-the-party type who picks fights and smokes marijuana. Soon after meeting, Luife takes Javi to a rave, where he meets Kiki (Kiki Montilla), who’s involved with Luife but doesn’t carry a title. Together, the three embark on a summer of adventures, including multiple beach trips, nights out drinking, and dancing in the Puerto Rican sun. But as time passes, toxic personalities clash with youthful inexperience, and the conflict starts to unravel the friendship. As things start looking up, a major twist affects their lives forever.
The friendship dynamic is the catalyst for the drama. Javi is in a place he doesn’t want to be and is fairly shy, so naturally, he gravitates to the first person who gives him attention (and is close in age), Luife. Being the son of someone close to the family, there’s a certain degree of trust that’s assumed to be present. But Luife isn’t deserving of the benefit of the doubt, due to his short temper, erratic behavior, and lack of self-control. Kiki is just as bad, willing to deal with Luife’s toxic behavior, and allowing her self-doubt to be her identity. She doesn’t have a plan for her future or for leaving the island, which makes her feel hopeless. Without an official title between her and womanizing Luife, or a plan for the future, Kiki finds to have more in common with Javi than she initially thought. But with lines being drawn early, the stage is set almost immediately for turmoil.
The backdrop is absolutely gorgeous. With the story taking place on the island, everything from the cars to the beaches to the laidback nature of the people looked and felt authentic. The soundtrack was perfect, carrying the mood for each scene, whether the atmosphere served a plate of drama or a fresh set of vibes. The onscreen chemistry between the three principal characters felt like they were real-life best friends. The combination of youthful exuberance and irresponsible spontaneity worked to perfection.
If there was ever a film worth seeing at a festival, it’s Summer of Three. The story, soundtrack, and flow of the film work perfectly to produce an ideal festival experience. We get coming-of-age movies often, but not like this and not told from a Puerto Rican perspective. It’s a fun, irresponsible film that exudes both sex appeal and youthful inexperience.
Summer of Three gets a 9 out of 10. The film, directed by Carlitos Ruiz-Ruiz, is an instant classic. From beginning to end, the film exudes quality. If you have a Tribeca watchlist, Summer of Three needs to be at the top of it.
SCHEDULE:
Thursday, June 11 – 9:15 PM | Village East by Angelika
Summer of Three made its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival.
-Jon Jones
Category: Feature Narrative
Country: Puerto Rico
Director: Carlitos Ruiz-Ruiz
Cast: Marcel Ruiz, Paolo Schoene, Kiki Montilla
Runtime: 85 mins
Trailer: N/A
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
U.S. Release Date: June 8, 2026