The Summer Book

The Summer Book (2024) is a family drama permeated by grief, set in Finland, following the impact of Sophia’s mother’s death. The film is directed by Charlie McDowell and is based on the novel of the same title by Tove Jansson.

The beautifully crafted cinematography, with a strong commitment to handheld camerawork and on-location shooting, guides viewers around the gorgeous Finnish countryside. With a strong focus on realism, the reality of Finnish Midsummer’s continuous sunlight is captured through prolonged shots of the outdoors, with an excellent use of lighting and shadows.

Touchingly, there is a strong sentiment here to detail and the art of noticing. Several of the indoor segments capture beautifully designed sets with heavily decorated walls and desks. Many moments of the film linger on small objects in the background, such as several unique old paintings and ornaments. This beautifully gives the film the feeling of a memory being captured and preserved.

With a small, largely unknown cast, viewers can easily immerse themselves in the story. The strong performance from award-winning actress Glenn Close, who plays the main character and Sophia's grandmother, notably stands out as marvellously convincing, with a graceful portrayal of an elderly lady who must face the decline of her cognitive abilities as she ages. Additionally, the chemistry between Close’s character and child actress Emily Matthews’s Sophia, her granddaughter, is exceptionally beautiful. The two of their journeys, Sophia’s coming of age and her grandmother’s reflection on the life she had, intertwine beautifully as viewers witness an authentically emotional dynamic play out between them

The actual story itself is largely uneventful; viewers are mostly slowly observing Sophia and her grandmother’s relationship as they interact with the gorgeous Finnish landscape. The film takes its time building up the world around them, gradually letting viewers take in the marvellously varied environment.There is a strong focus on the characters’ interaction with nature, as each of the family members has their own way of connecting with the natural space around them. Whether that be through creativity, or in forms of leisure such as wild swimming, viewers can sense the strong impact that nature has had on the characters’ lives, and the way that it provides comfort for them all as they face and navigate difficult times.

The writing, notably the dialogue, is certainly intriguing. The charmingly strange way the characters interact with one another brings forth an oddly unsettling tone at times, which, when paired with the slightly eerie music choices, creates something quite uncanny. This, combined with the strong theme of death and the similarities in colour scheme to Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man (1973) and Ari Aster’s Midsommar (2019), both death cult-related psychological horror films, adds to the film’s unconventional perspective towards death. The way the film embraces the idea of death might make viewers ponder ideas about the circle of life and the inevitability of nature’s toll. It is interesting to see the idea of embracing and honouring death, often used as a horror trope, here in a familial drama. That is just one way that the film incorporates uncomfortable ideas, spinning them in an enlightening, hopeful way.

The Summer Book is a film full of love and intrigue, blending cultural and generational ideas to create heartfelt stories with meaningful characters. With hypnotically gorgeous cinematography and poignant performances, the film toys cleverly with ideas surrounding death, religion and family in a satisfyingly fresh way. Much like Director Charlie McDowell’s previous work, this film is rich in its artful depictions, with heavy symbolism dotted throughout. Viewers will find themselves immersed in the beautiful world of the film, reflecting on the ideas it suggests, and touched by the narrative surrounding Sophia’s family.

The Summer Book will be released in UK cinemas from 7 August 2026.