Based on the novel by Tove Jansson and adapted for the screen by Robert Jones, The Summer Book follows an intergenerational family spending the summer on an uninhabited island in the Gulf of Finland. Directed by Charlie McDowell, it’s one of the most beautiful and authentic films I’ve seen in a long time. The Summer Book releases to streaming platforms on October 21st.
Arriving by boat to their little island, Grandmother (Glenn Close), Father (Anders Danielsen Lie), and Sophia (Emily Matthews) get settled into their summer home, a rustic structure that blends in well with the environment around it. When the unnamed dad sees his deceased wife’s straw hat hanging on its peg, Grandmother hastily relocates the item, not wanting it to cause undue grief to her son.
Father is an illustrator and quickly sets up his art station. As he immerses himself in his work, he leaves the care of young Sophia to his mother. Sophia delights in exploring the nature around her. Grandmother watches over her with love, attention, and a bit of a mischievous spirit. Through the days, the older woman imparts wisdom to her granddaughter in gentle words and simple actions.
The Summer Book is a celebration of life and nature. There are no devices to get in the way of discovering what the natural world has to offer. Grandmother and Sophia make bird sculptures out of bark. They sneak onto private property to make a little fun at the expense of the owners, secretly mocking the way the affluent live.
The pacing of the film is slow and gentle but the performance by Glenn Close and newcomer Emily Matthews keep the audience engaged. Close plays Grandmother as a woman with a lifetime of experience to express. She’s a salty character, both gritty and sweet at the same time. Young Matthews demonstrates her ability to imbue her character with a range of emotions from sorrow, to fear, to wonder.
The Summer Book celebrates the power of the bond between generations when it’s nurtured and honored. It celebrates an appreciation of nature and a back-to-basics way of living that is much needed in a world that often seems overrun with technology, noise, and consumerism.