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Summerland

Play trailer 2:18 Poster for Summerland PG 2020 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
78% Tomatometer 129 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings
A reclusive Englishwoman opens her heart to a young evacuee as World War II rages across the channel.
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Summerland

Summerland

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Critics Consensus

In Summerland, the living is a little too easy to raise dramatic stakes -- but Gemma Arterton's performance adds some much-needed extra heat.

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Critics Reviews

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John Doyle Globe and Mail Jan 14, 2021
Made with great panache, this is a real gem of understated poignancy; about summers as lovely as they are fraught. Go to Full Review Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald Jan 13, 2021
3/5
Arterton towers in the role, not always in a good way. A stronger director might have reined her in, but Swale is not yet that experienced. When you add a large amount of treacle to the mix, the film becomes cloying and pushy. Go to Full Review David Stratton The Australian Jan 9, 2021
1.5/5
The child actors - Bond and Dixie Egerickx who plays a schoolfriend - are the most convincing elements of this woefully unconvincing romantic drama. Go to Full Review Dave Giannini InSession Film Feb 20, 2024
C
After the third act lands with a thud, it poisons that first hour to the point that the whole thing, at best, just feels like a waste. Go to Full Review M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut Sep 1, 2022
3/5
Summerland offers a refreshingly modern take on a genre that usually is as diverse as various colors of freshly fallen snow — though it ignores riskier choices that were there for the taking. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Feb 18, 2022
3/4
Summerland ignores most of the problems that probably would have emerged in Alice's life and instead opts for a film with copious amounts of warm-hearted escapism. It may be an illusion, but sometimes, that's just what an audience needs. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dixie C Aug 22, 2020 Very well done just didn’t realize what the story was about. Good acting and as I said well done. Wasn’t to much in your face. See more Kelly Aug 1, 2020 One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Excellent storyline. See more Gaya T @RT31247430 Aug 5, 2025 One of the most beautiful films I’ve ever watched. The story gripped me from the very beginning. I was completely hooked. It made me cry, smile, and reflect all at once. And that plot twist? I literally fell off my chair. It was so subtle yet powerful, and it turned the whole story into something even more profound. This film left a lasting imprint on my heart. Highly, highly recommended. See more Blu T @RT33394893 Dec 15, 2024 Loved it and well done See more Brent S @RT02296988 Dec 6, 2024 Absolute tripe. This falsifying and hijacking of history by young over educated under talented directors would be worrying if anyone actually watched their pointless ‘movies’ -but they don’t so it isn’t. See more Dani M @matyd Jun 5, 2023 While it was predicatable and incredulous at times, it was still enjoyable. The performances were good, the cinematography was beautiful and the ending was emotionally gratifying. I liked that it did not try to be too grand or overly-ambitious. Just a small story about ordinary people living through some extraordinary times. Well worth the watch. See more Read all reviews
Summerland

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Cast & Crew

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Jessica Swale

Director

Gemma Arterton

Alice

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Vera

Penelope Wilton

Older Alice

Lucas Bond

Frank

Dixie Egerickx

Edie

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Summerland

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Summerland

A scene from "Summerland." A scene from "Summerland." A scene from "Summerland." A scene from "Summerland." Summerland (2020) Summerland (2020) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A reclusive Englishwoman opens her heart to a young evacuee as World War II rages across the channel.
Director
Jessica Swale
Producer
Guy Heeley, Adrian Sturges
Screenwriter
Jessica Swale
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
British Film Institute, Embankment Films, Quickfire Films
Rating
PG (Smoking|Language|Some Suggestive Comments|Thematic Content)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 31, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 31, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$58.3K
Runtime
1h 39m
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