The Summer Book

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1:45

The Summer Book

In Theaters Fri Sep 19

1h 35m

Drama

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16 Reviews

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At her family's home on a Finnish island, young Sophia explores the natural world with her father and grandmother (Glenn Close). Adapted from Tove Jansson's beloved novel, The Summer Book is a delicate account of growing up and growing old.

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In Theaters Fri Sep 19

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Charlie McDowell

Director

Glenn Close

Grandmother

Anders Danielsen Lie

Father

Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson

Eriksson

Pekka Strang

Mr. Malander

Sophia Heikkilä

Mrs. Malander

Ritesh Mehta

IndieWire

Indeed, the film’s secret weapon is Glenn Close, aka Grandmother.

Rated: B-

Oct 28, 2024

Full Review

Guy Lodge

Variety

Attentive to characterful details of accent and posture, Close plays this tender-tough old bird beautifully, resisting twinkly sentimentality while maintaining a palpably affectionate rapport with Matthews.

Oct 17, 2024

Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

The earnestness slowly becomes suffocating, and Grandmother’s endless lessons grating. Yes, nature is the ultimate healer. And?

Rated: 2/5

Oct 16, 2024

Full Review

Tim Miller

Cape Cod Wave Magazine

There’s no big payoff, emotional or otherwise; no great pronouncements. And that’s what makes this film so good. You’re left to make of it what you will, to experience it as you will. It feels like real life, bittersweet and sublime.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 31, 2025

Full Review

Morgan Rojas

Cinemacy

Despite its lack of substantial momentum, The Summer Book still provides a gentle and therapeutic viewing experience.

Nov 13, 2024

Full Review

Alex Billington

FirstShowing.net

Not every film needs to be blatant with its message, sometimes the great power of cinema is simply letting the ethereal wisdom of characters & cinematography wash over you.

Rated: 9/10

Nov 4, 2024

Full Review

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Synopsis

At her family's home on a Finnish island, young Sophia explores the natural world with her father and grandmother (Glenn Close). Adapted from Tove Jansson's beloved novel, The Summer Book is a delicate account of growing up and growing old.

Director: Charlie McDowell
Producer: Aleksi Bardy, Kevin Loader, Charlie McDowell, Kath Mattock, Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Helen Vinogradov
Screenwriter: Tove Jansson, Robert Jones
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Helsinki Filmi Oy, Finnish Impact Film Fund, Case Study Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 35m