Summerland

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2:18

Summerland

PG

Released Jul 31, 2020

1h 39m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

129 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

A reclusive Englishwoman opens her heart to a young evacuee as World War II rages across the channel.

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Critics Consensus

In Summerland, the living is a little too easy to raise dramatic stakes -- but Gemma Arterton's performance adds some much-needed extra heat.

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John Doyle

Globe and Mail

Made with great panache, this is a real gem of understated poignancy; about summers as lovely as they are fraught.

Jan 14, 2021

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

Arterton towers in the role, not always in a good way. A stronger director might have reined her in, but Swale is not yet that experienced. When you add a large amount of treacle to the mix, the film becomes cloying and pushy.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 13, 2021

Full Review

David Stratton

The Australian

The child actors - Bond and Dixie Egerickx who plays a schoolfriend - are the most convincing elements of this woefully unconvincing romantic drama.

Rated: 1.5/5

Jan 9, 2021

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Dave Giannini

InSession Film

After the third act lands with a thud, it poisons that first hour to the point that the whole thing, at best, just feels like a waste.

Rated: C

Feb 20, 2024

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Summerland offers a refreshingly modern take on a genre that usually is as diverse as various colors of freshly fallen snow — though it ignores riskier choices that were there for the taking.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Summerland ignores most of the problems that probably would have emerged in Alice's life and instead opts for a film with copious amounts of warm-hearted escapism. It may be an illusion, but sometimes, that's just what an audience needs.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 18, 2022

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Dixie C

Very well done just didn’t realize what the story was about. Good acting and as I said well done. Wasn’t to much in your face.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/22/20

Full Review

Kelly

One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Excellent storyline.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/20

Full Review

Gaya T

One of the most beautiful films I’ve ever watched. The story gripped me from the very beginning. I was completely hooked. It made me cry, smile, and reflect all at once. And that plot twist? I literally fell off my chair. It was so subtle yet powerful, and it turned the whole story into something even more profound. This film left a lasting imprint on my heart. Highly, highly recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Loved it and well done

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/15/24

Full Review

Brent S

Absolute tripe. This falsifying and hijacking of history by young over educated under talented directors would be worrying if anyone actually watched their pointless ‘movies’ -but they don’t so it isn’t.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/06/24

Full Review

Dani M

While it was predicatable and incredulous at times, it was still enjoyable. The performances were good, the cinematography was beautiful and the ending was emotionally gratifying. I liked that it did not try to be too grand or overly-ambitious. Just a small story about ordinary people living through some extraordinary times. Well worth the watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/05/23

Full Review

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Jessica Swale

Director

Gemma Arterton

Alice

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Vera

Penelope Wilton

Older Alice

Lucas Bond

Frank

Dixie Egerickx

Edie

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Summerland: Trailer 1

2:18

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Synopsis

A reclusive Englishwoman opens her heart to a young evacuee as World War II rages across the channel.

Director: Jessica Swale
Producer: Guy Heeley, Adrian Sturges
Screenwriter: Jessica Swale
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: British Film Institute, Embankment Films, Quickfire Films
Rating: PG (Smoking|Language|Some Suggestive Comments|Thematic Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.3K
Runtime: 1h 39m

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