Review: Charlie McDowell’s ‘The Summer Book’ is sublime and peaceful

by Alex Billington
November 4, 2024

“On an island, everything is complete…” There is a small film showing on the festival circuit this fall (notably at AFI Festival) which discreetly sneaks into the hearts of everyone who watches it. This beautiful story set on a Finnish island is the kind of wholesome and healing work of art that can provide real comfort to viewers of all ages. The summer book is the latest feature film by the American filmmaker Charlie McDowellfilm director The one I love, The discoveryAnd Bargain before that. It is rare to encounter a film so peaceful and sublime, never grating or sinuous, so deeply in love with the magnificence of life on this planet. It’s cliché to say, but it’s absolutely true for this movie – it feels like a really warm, nurturing hug of a movie from a grandmother who loves you very much, regardless of the shenanigans we might get into. get started. This is precisely the aim of the film: it is the story of a young girl and her grandmother living for a summer in a small cabin on this island. It’s the story of one life coming to an end while another is just beginning to flourish.

The summer book is based on the book of the same name written by a Finnish author Tove Janssonbest known as the creator of the Moomins. His book is adapted by writer Robert Jones and directed by Charlie McDowell. It’s something entirely new and different from McDowell, whose other films are primarily sneaky thrillers (all of which I’ve praised before), it’s a much gentler and simpler story about life and nature. Clearly, the film is an expression of love from deep within the soul of McDowell and all the cast and crew who made it. It’s remarkably touching and so nice to spend time with these people on this island. Featuring gorgeous, vibrant cinematography from Norwegian cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlenand a beautifully tender score from the Polish pianist/composer Hania Rani. There are only three main characters in this: Glenn Close plays the role of grandmother, newcomer Emilie Matthew impresses in the role of young Sophia and the Norwegian actor Anders Danielsen Lie co-stars as his father. The only other person who shows up is a neighbor named Eriksson, played by Ingvar Sigurdssonwho from time to time drops off some provisions by boat to their cabin.

The film is 90 minutes long but still takes its time to let each moment breathe and rest before moving on. I mean that as a compliment – it plays like live-action Hayao Miyazaki movie. It is that wonderful. Featuring a grandmother and a young girl out in the wild, getting into all kinds of trouble, exploring and escaping; it’s fun but sweet, and there’s even a missing mom and a busy dad, as in My Neighbor Totoro. Besides an immense love of nature, there is a poetic calm in this film that really makes a difference as it moves everyone who watches it. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. It’s the healing balm of a film. It will earn its place on many movie fans’ shelves and will definitely be something many return to when they need to feel deeply the warmth that only a wise grandmother can bring. The film is as much about the growth of nature as it is about the growth of human beings (being part of nature, of course). Father is trying to grow a tree from a rock by the water and it needs proper nourishment and care to grow into something big and strong – just like Sophia does. She’s lucky that her grandmother is there, even though Grandma also feels lost at her age.

It’s always a pleasure to come across a film that feels like it was made by someone who loves the world, all its beauty in every moment, as much as You TO DO. There’s a lovely shot where Grandma comes out of the cabin one morning and the daughter follows her and asks her what she’s doing and she replies, “I’m listening.” The camera moves slowly across the water as we listen to the birdsong. It’s just as moving as doing this yourself for real, sitting outside on a park bench one morning and listening to the birds sing their hearts out. Not all films need to be blatant in their message, sometimes the great power of cinema is simply letting the ethereal wisdom of the characters and cinematography wash over you. Although he has a lot to say – not only about growing up, not only about getting older, but about living a strong and healthy life, about appreciating every little thing every day, because life only lasts SO long. I can’t wait to see it again and relive that magic. The heavenly score will be in regular rotation on my playlist. Glenn Close delivers another masterfully extraordinary performance, with Matthews playing to her genius. Watch it for these two, watch it for the beauty of nature, watch it for a trip to Finland. Just take the time to enjoy this meditative film.

Alex’s note: 9 out of 10
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