Summer of Sam
Summer of Sam is a 1999 American crime thriller film about the 1977 David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) serial murders and their effect on a group of fictional residents of an Italian-American neighborhood in The Bronx in the late 1970s. The killer, David Berkowitz, his murders and the investigation are shown in the film, but the focus is on two young men from the neighborhood: Vinny (John Leguizamo), whose marriage is faltering due to his cheating, and Ritchie (Adrien Brody), Vinny's childhood friend who has embraced punk fashion and music.
| Summer of Sam | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Spike Lee |
| Written by | Victor Colicchio Michael Imperioli Spike Lee |
| Produced by | Jon Kilik Spike Lee |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ellen Kuras |
| Edited by | Barry Alexander Brown |
| Music by | Terence Blanchard |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
Release dates |
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Running time | 142 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English Italian |
| Budget | $22 million |
| Box office | $19.3 million |
The murder investigation and other contemporary events, such as the New York City blackout of 1977 and the New York Yankees' winning season, provide a backdrop to the stories of Vinny, Ritchie, their families and friends. The film was directed and co-produced by Spike Lee, who also co-wrote the film with Michael Imperioli and Victor Colicchio.