Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973)

In the bustling heart of New York City, Rita Walden, a middle-aged woman ensnared by depression, navigates through a labyrinth of emotional turmoil. Haunted by nightmares, she finds solace in the more genial dreams of her idyllic childhood spent on the family farm. She is perpetually caught in a web of regret, wondering about the life she could have led with the farm boy she admired during her adolescence. Her life is a whirlwind of conflict, be it the incessant bickering with her mother, clashes with her sister Betty, or strained relations with her adult daughter Anna, who grapples with her own demons. A deep chasm separates Rita from her son Bobby, whose homosexuality she refuses to acknowledge. When her mother's unexpected death strikes, Rita teeters on the brink of a mental breakdown. Her heart aches at the thought of parting with the cherished family farm, a legacy she dreams of passing on to Bobby. Her optometrist husband, Harry, suggests a European escape to provide Rita with a respite from the mounting stress and offer a chance to reconnect with Bobby, who now resides in Amsterdam. Embarking on this journey, Rita confronts a cascade of crises. As she watches Harry revisit his World War II battleground in Bastogne, she experiences a poignant clarity. Amidst the remnants of history, Rita begins to reexamine her life and her relationships, triggering a transformative journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and healing. In "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams," the viewer is immersed in the profound complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of personal growth.

Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams is a drama movie featuring Joanne Woodward.

Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV.