Watch Harrad Summer

Harrad Summer, a 1974 movie directed by Steven H. Stern, is a story about a group of college students who explore love, sexuality, and relationships, in a unique social experiment that challenges the conventional relationship model. Set in a fictional college campus, the movie portrays the journey of a group of young adults through their summer break, where they participate in the Harrad Experiment, a program designed to promote sexual liberation and free expression.

The movie follows the main character, Stanley Cole (Robert Reiser), a reserved English Literature major who enrolls in the Harrad Experiment with a desire to break free from his conservative upbringing and explore his sexuality. Stanley soon begins to build relationships with Sheila Grove (Laurie Walters), a shy and introverted artist, and David Cameron (Richard Doran), a self-assured jock, who challenge his beliefs and push him out of his comfort zone.

As they navigate the complex terrain of interpersonal relationships and sexual identity, Stanley, Sheila, and David confront the social norms and cultural taboos that limit their sexual expression and their ability to establish meaningful connections with one another. They struggle to balance their desires and their emotional needs, and face obstacles that threaten to derail their personal growth.

The movie explores themes of sexuality, gender politics, social conformity, and self-expression, and offers a refreshingly honest and non-judgmental portrayal of human sexuality. The Harrad Experiment, the setting of the movie, serves as a metaphor for the cultural movements of the 1960s and 1970s that challenged the traditional values and norms of American society.

The performances of the lead actors, Robert Reiser, Laurie Walters, and Richard Doran, are convincing, and they bring depth and complexity to their characters. As they explore the intimate relationships that develop between them, they embody the struggles and the triumphs of young adults in search of their identity and their place in the world.

The movie's cinematography is simple, and the visuals are understated, but effective. The college campus and the suburban setting provide a natural and unobtrusive backdrop to the story, and the muted color palette conveys a sense of introspection and intimacy.

Overall, Harrad Summer is a compelling movie, that faces head-on the issues of sexual liberation, love, and relationships, with a refreshing candor and empathetic eye. It offers a glimpse into the turbulent times of the 1970s, and the cultural movements that shaped a generation, and serves as a timeless testament to the human longing for freedom, acceptance, and connection.