The Summer Book

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1:45

The Summer Book

2025

1h 30m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

80%

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61 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

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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Critics Consensus

Enlivened by a characteristically graceful performance by Glenn Close, The Summer Book is a poignant exploration of life's beginnings and endings.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Aug 24

3/5

Old-fashioned in a good way. Here is a film for a mainstream audience – a senior audience in particular – that gives itself space to stretch out in loose and unhurried fashion.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Aug 10

The gentle marvel of Charlie McDowell’s quiet adaptation is just how much of the novel’s restraint is present in the movie.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

The Times (UK)

Aug 7

4/5

Surrender to its flow, though, and you’ll be rewarded. Like a welcome dip in a clear, cold lake, this cinematic “cool-cation” left me cleansed, revived and blissfully peaceful.

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Victoria Luxford

Clash Magazine

Aug 18

6/10

Slight but enjoyable, The Summer Book is an expedition that wins you over with its beauty.

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Tori Brazier

Metro

Aug 12

2/5

The Summer Book proves that not every novel should receive the big screen adaptation treatment... Sometimes a mood-heavy book with a light touch is better off being left as just that, rather than a paper-thin interpretation stretched over 95 minutes.

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Jenny McCartney

Sunday Times (UK)

Aug 11

3/5

The Summer Book didn’t beguile me as much as it wanted to, or I hoped it would. But sometimes that’s just the way the island moss crumbles.

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Kalissa H

@kali_416 Jul 5

The 16 mm was cool and the scenery was beautiful. It’s a calm and peaceful movie, but I found myself ready for it to be over.

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Priscilla Z

@PriscillaSupreme Jun 9

Just one of those pics that is an engaging slice of life. beautiful scenery, gentle characters . Lovely and soothing. If you want actions or a jump scare or some unspeakable tragedy...look elsewhere. This is just like stepping into someone else's life for a few hours.

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Joan K

@RT74047805 Mar 7

If you’re looking for a very quiet, gentle Movie, you’ve found it. I loved it.

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Nik S

@RT07217747 Nov 27

I enjoyed the performances and cinematography. The story was captivating, but I dubbed it One Morning in Maine meets Ingmar Bergman.

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Marit Risto F

@MaritRisto Nov 9

I recommend TOVE, by Zaida Bergroth

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Vince Q.

@Vincedeq Oct 29

Glenn Close stars in this coming of age/sunset story that asks us to believe that she is a centerpiece 90-year-old Finnish grandmother. Despite the distracting accent and clumsy prosthetics, Close does her part in an attempt to rescue this aimless piece, but ultimately can’t divert this film from heading toward the dust bin of cinematic history. I’m reminded of the solid multi-generational rapport of an On Golden Pond or a Princess Bride, where dialogue is an ally to reveal the love and support we all hope to leave after our passing. I feel that this film would have been more successful, definitely more genuine, with a Finnish cast.

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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

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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
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $53.9K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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