Summerland

My wife and I saw this in early August at one of our independent theaters, coming out of covid-19 lockdown. We joined a couple of dozen other viewers, socially distanced and masked up. I can't help wondering how the theaters are going to be able to turn a profit with this new normal.

This lovely film is a great starring vehicle for Gemma Arterton, who's become one of my favorites. Still in her mid-30's she's moved on from playing young attractive add-ons in fantasy films (Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia, or the crazy splashy fun of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters) and has built a growing and varied record in films playing lead roles in smaller-scale personal dramas like Tamara Drewe, Gemma Bovary, Vita and Virginia, Their Finest, a great Saint Joan at the London National Theatre, and more. Can't wait to see her in the upcoming King's Man.

In Summerland she plays Alice Lamb, a prickly and reclusive writer who (during WWII) is researching the mirage-like atmospheric phenomenon called the "Fata Morgana". To her surprise and much against her will she is saddled with looking after young schoolboy Frank (Lucas Bond) who, like many other wartime children, has been sent out of London to the provinces to stay safely out of the Blitz. Frank is a basically good-natured kid who's not put off by this apparently crusty "old lady", and the main arch of the plot follows their developing relationship into one of mutual love. Flashbacks to Alice's pre-war association with friend (and more than friend) Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) are shown that fill in much of what we need to know about Alice. In the meantime, Frank strikes up a close friendship with a classmate Edie (Dixie Egerickx) as they follow their natural kids' imperatives to explore everywhere around their little town and seaside.

Those are just the basics, but the last third of the film goes beyond what I just said into more unexpected territory. Two or three major twists are coming, at least one of which is sort of predictable but at least one of which is certainly a surprise. But viewed from the end of the film looking backward, it makes sense. There's no cheating and nothing arbitrary. It's a much more complex story that it at first appears, it's well structured, and (especially) it's nicely paced. The scenery (the white cliffs and windswept meadows of Dover) has a role to play too, but it doesn't intrude on the story. No spoilers -- just go and see it to experience what I mean!

The two kids (Frank, Edie) are great: they're more than just placeholders filling in the gaps between the adult interactions in the story. Tom Courtenay makes a supporting appearance as an endearing, kindly schoolmaster. But this is Gemma Arterton's movie, make no mistake. She's grown into a masterful actress who (like all her recent parts) disappears so totally into her role that you're not even aware that she's acting. She has Oscar-level skill. But without getting involved in big-budget big-publicity roles I'm not sure she will ever get one. Nevertheless, what she's giving us is art at a high level all the same. The Brits seem so expert at crafting these types of movies -- warm, low-key, compelling personal stories with great casts and a sense of history. We could do a lot worse than get more of them.

My Review- Summerland

My Rating 8/10

This is the fourth film I've seen Gemma Arterton in recently and I think her finest performance . She is a very versatile Actress /Producer . Her other recent films The Escape (2017) Black Narcissus,(2020) and Vita and Virginia (2018) are all very different roles and tell me Gemma is another of the great younger British Actresses that will follow in the path of Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith.

Summerland is a hard film to find it had a very short Cinema release and I couldn't find it on my Streaming channels so I was glad to find it on DVD. It's beautifully filmed on location throughout East Sussex in the towns of Seaford & Brighton as well as in the county of Kent and at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent . We first are introduced to the main character Alice as an older cranky reclusive woman ( Penelope Wilton) who just wants to get on typing her novel while being bothered with interruptions from village locals . Then we return in time to World War 11 and meet young Alice (Gemma Arterton) still a prickly quick tempered reclusive writer, resigned to a solitary life on the seaside cliffs of Southern England while World War II rages across the channel. Alice has good reason to be cynical and disappointed with life as she has loved and lost . She loved a woman Vera played beautifully by Gugu Mbatha-Raw but as many men and women then had to hide or suppress their sexuality their life together seemed impossible for Vera who wanted children and they parted. Alice opens her front door one day to find she's to adopt a young London evacuee named Frank, played by young Lucas Bond in another fine child acting role.he's perfection as the young war evacuee. He gets to portray some very dramatic moments in "Summerland " and I'm so impressed with the quality of child actors and their training in films today. Alice is horrified at the prospect of sharing her life even for a week with a strange child and she's resistant at first but does her bit for the War effort. It's not long, however, before the two realize they have more in common in their pasts than Alice had assumed. This is an intensely emotional story of love's endurance in trying times. It's beautiful to look at and it has pathos a little whimsy and magic and most importantly a fine script by Jessica Swale an Olivier Award winning playwright , screenwriter and Director. This film is one instance where the author has also done a fine job directing her film adaptation. Tom Courtney at 83 years old also gives a great supporting role performance as Mr Sullivan the village elder. If you can get to see if this fine British film I thoroughly recommend it .

I watched this for one reason alone: Gemma Arterton. However instead of enjoying looking at her,m I was transfixed by her character. She reminded me very strongly of a character in a Diney Costeloe movie. The dialogue is a bit weak in patches and the direction is lacking in a big way. This would be a blockbuster movie had direction and dialogue been better. However, the cast, mainly Arterton, floated this story right through my emotions and from a quick look at a beautiful lady, it turned out to be an immersion in a beautiful tale. Bring out your happy, watch this film.

This movie was a heart-warming tale of how love can find its way back. The main characters were so very well portrayed. I so needed this break from the cruelties of reality. The young man who played Frank was exceptional. It was a very clean and wholesome film, and anyone who finds issue with the content has to be a close-minded individual.

I rarely write reviews, but was alarmed to see this film have such a low rating. This film has amazing acting; everyone truly is their character. Gemma is Alice! It is a sweet story among an unsweet time, and beautiful scenery will take your breathe away. I truly loved it!