With its unhurried meditation on grief, memory, and the gentle rhythms of life in nature, director Charlie McDowell‘s “The Summer Book” has a rare air of stillness and grace. Adapted from Tove Jansson’s beloved 1972 novel, it follows nine-year-old Sophia (Emily Matthews) as she spends the summer with her grandmother (Glenn Close) and father (Anders Danielsen Lie) on a small Finnish island. It’s Sophia’s first summer without her deceased mother, and while her father withdraws into quiet sorrow, Sophis and her grandmother form a bond that’s part friendship, part mentorship, and totally heartwarming.
The film unfolds as a series of delicate vignettes rather than a conventional plot. We watch Sophia and her grandmother wander the rocky shores, explore the woods, build miniature worlds, talk about life and death, and celebrate midsommar beneath the pale northern light. McDowell takes his time, and the pace is so slow and meditative that it actually becomes a bit too sleepy. This is the kind of film you watch when you’re in the mood to breathe and let your thoughts wander. It’s all about noticing the small things in life, like the sound of waves, the colors of the setting sun, and a shared laugh, and how those moments can help a grieving heart heal.
Shot on 16mm film, the film itself looks absolutely gorgeous with a cinematic quality that feels rich and alive. All of that soft sunlight, glimmering water, and long northern evenings feel like they could last forever. The island itself becomes a character that’s full of peace, mystery, and a touch of melancholy, and it’s visually beautiful.
Glenn close is wonderful here, giving one of her most restrained and humane performances. She’s a grandmother with plenty of wisdom, but also a dose of mischief and fragility. Matthews matches her with a natural performance that creates a magical chemistry between the two characters. You really believe these two love each other deeply.
By showing the world through both the eyes of a child and the wisdom of an elder, “The Summer Book” is all about finding meaning in stillness. Its simplicity is touching, offering a gentle reminder to slow down and let life unfold.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 