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2025 Sarasota Film Festival

The Summer Book

Narrative Feature

20241 hr 33 minUK/FinlandEnglish

Screenings

  • The Summer Book [SPOTLIGHT]

    📅

    Sunday, April 13 at 6:30 PM EDT

    Ends 8:30 PM EDT

    📍

    Cinebistro

About this film

Based on Tove Jansson’s celebrated novel, The Summer Book tells the story of Sophia, a nine-year-old girl who is growing up fast, and her grandmother (Glenn Close), who is nearing the end of her life. Together with Sophia’s father, they spend time at their family’s summer home on a tiny unspoiled island in the Gulf of Finland, exploring the islet, talking about life, nature and everything but their feelings about Sophia's mother's death and their love for one another - but gradually emotional wounds begin to heal and bonds deepen. Director Charlie McDowell’s stunningly-shot film brings Jansson’s most beloved characters to life and celebrates the fierceness of all-encompassing love. The Summer Book features performances from eight-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close, Anders Danielsen Lie (The Worst Person in the World), and features the debut of Emily Matthews as Sophia.


In Narrative Competition

Credits

Director
Charlile McDowell
Producer
Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Aleksi Bardy,Charlie McDowell, Kevin Loader, Kath Mattock
Screenwriter
Robert Jones
Cinematographer
Jussi Rautaniem
Editor
Jussi Rautaniem
Cast
Glenn Close, Anders Danielsen Lie, Emily Matthew, Sturla Brandth Grøvlen
The Summer Book
The Summer Book — production still