Summerland, August 2020 review

Summerland's promotional poster

 On Tuesday last week I saw Summerland (Jessica Swale, 2020) at the cinema. Summerland is a period drama about a young boy, Frank, played by Lucas Bond in the second world war who is evacuated from London to Kent and sent to live with a woman, Alice, a lesbian played by Kent fellow Kent native Gemma Arterton who is the village outcast and she does not want Frank living with her. Gemma Arterton's wardrobe must be full of period costumes, having recently played Vita in Vita and Virgina (Chanya Button, 2019) and another war-time piece, Their Finest (Lone Scherfig, 2016). Giving the character and time-period of Summerland, then, it is not a suprise Arterton was chosen to play Alice.  It is an independent, British made film, Kent as the primary filming location. As a Kentish girl myself it was nice to see places I recognize on screen. Summerland is the kind of film that is generally suitable for all ages, but is most likely to attract older cinema go-ers.

Gemma Arterton as investigator Alice and Lucas Bond as evacuee Frank

  Plot wise it was a bit like the war film many of us watched in multiple history classes in school, Good Night Mr Tom (Jack Gold, 1999) (which was about a grumpy man who did not want an evacuee living with him) but with the aestetic reminiscent of another war-time film, The Gurnsey Literacy and Potato Peel Society (Mike Newell, 2018). I saw it with my parents and in their words, "it's a so-so film". but I enjoyed it much more than them, even though period dramas are generally aimed more at my parents generation so you might think our opinions would be the other way around.  My only real criticism is that some parts were a little slow, a bit more could have happened. Additionally, Penelope Wilton was under-used. It felt like the producers got her onboard without having a particular role in mind till they started shooting. There was also a casting age mis-match but I will not go into that issue otherwise it will spoil the plot. I just want to briefly mention Lucas Bond as Frank, and Dixie Egerickx who plays Edie are little stars, they are both extremely talented young actors and I am sure this will be the first of many films we will see them in, they have both got bright futures ahead of them. I quite liked Summerland, a sweet, uplifting fil that is easy to watch,  something I feel is needed in these difficult times.

Alice (Arterton) and girlfriend Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) 

 There was barely anyone in the screen, so if you want to visit somewhere safe I recommend the cinema, much safer than restaurants and fast food places at the moment, easier to social distance. Additionally, I fear for cinemas as both times I have been to the cinema since they re-opened me and my party have been almost the only ones in there. I especially worry for independant cinemas such as the one I saw Summerland in. The staff said our screening was the only screening of Summerland in fourteen performances that had anyone in, if cinemas keep showing to empty houses, distributors will not allow independants to show their films, as well as a lack of takings, this may cause many independant cinemas to close down, which would be so heartbreaking. 4 Stars ✰✰✰✰