The Summer Book

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1:45

The Summer Book

Sep 2025

1h 35m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

83%

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40 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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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Nov 4

3/4

The Summer Book, both book and film, expands Jansson’s theme park back to childhood and forward to old age, fills it with summer light and sunset and the beautiful silence of God, and says you can’t grab it, but you must. But you can’t. But you must.

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Flora Belle Farr

Austin Chronicle

Sep 25

Directing his fourth feature film, Charlie McDowell (The One I Love) draws a layered performance from young Matthews in her film debut.

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Lisa Kennedy

New York Times

Sep 19

The Summer Book offers a loving portrait of budding and fading.

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Benjamin Franz

Film Threat

6d

8/10

The Summer Book is a wholesome meditation on the life cycle. If you’re in the market for a film with low stakes that isn’t going to throw you on an emotional roller coaster, this is the film for you.

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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

Nov 13

2/5

Slight at its core, The Summer Book remains stubbornly stalled between sincere intentions and a weary torpor.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Nov 4

4/5

Gentle and contemplative, this drama stars Glenn Close as a Finnish grandmother spending a season on a lonely island helping her son and granddaughter heal.

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Nik S

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

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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Dawn M

@AnnapolisLassie Oct 12

Proof that Glenn Close is the GOAT! This film (yes, a film, not a movie) is a slow simmer, but holds so many life lessons from a quieter time devoid of the static of technology. The land and seascape is beautiful. Makes you want to live off the grid, if only for a weekend.

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Johann A

Sep 30

I watched "Summer Book" 3 times in festivals and in Helsinki. What a great movie, specially for the period we are living in. A movie wich gives space to the important things in life, so easy going, but also so deeply touching. I could not imagine, that the spirit of the book can be translated into a movie. But Charlie McDowell absolutely made it. Glenn Close is at her best. Whenever have we seen an actress who is able to play an old, sick person, close to death in that way: how difficult every step is, every breath, and all the daily things... and then alone on the island she feels walking nude through the forrest that she is balanced with the world.. even with her backside she is able to act brilliantly... with so many movies overloaded with informations, overacted, this is a wonderful relaxing contrast and is my film highlight of the year. Glenn Close should win award after award after award..

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Susan K

Sep 29

This is a quiet movie. While the story is mostly seen through the eyes of a young girl, I found it more about an old woman facing her mortally and not wanting to give up.

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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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The Summer Book: Trailer 1

1:45

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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): $51.9K
Runtime: 1h 35m

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