Summerland Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Summerland Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 20, 2020

Playwright Jessica Swale makes her directorial debut with “Summerland” (also scripting the effort), and she remains within the theatrical realm with the period British drama. Swale aims to examine characters as they react to hardships and surprises, using a fractured sense of time to dig up compelling motivations for the players as they embark on complicated tests of courage and responsibility. “Summerland” tries to be big, dealing with World War II survival challenges and the open world of the English countryside, but Swale is more successful with intimacy, tapping into silent fears as her personalities struggle to confront a few unthinkable turns of fate. It’s a satisfying feature that ultimately takes on a bit more than it can handle, but Swale keeps the film sincere, also supported by a capable cast who makes certain the heart of the material is protected.

During World War II, writer Alice (Gemma Arterton) lives alone in a remote area by the sea, surrounded by a community that doesn’t know how to manage her standoffish ways. Branded a witch by the local children, Alice buries herself in research, shaping an analysis of folklore during a dark time in history. Unexpectedly, Alice is handed Frank (Lucas Bond), a young evacuee who requires a temporary home while his mother remains in London and his father is in service as a pilot. Unprepared and unwilling to care for Frank, Alice provides the child with the basics, barely tolerating his questions about her work and lifestyle. At school, Frank befriends Edie (Dixie Egerickx), a tough girl, finding a pal to help with his youthful sense of curiosity. At home, the boy soon makes a connection to Alice, forming a loose sense of domesticity while the writer reflects on the life she almost had with Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), getting close to a romantic partner before social and religious expectations pulled them apart.

“Summerland” doesn’t open in the thick of war, but in 1975, with an older Alice (Penelope Wilton) struggling with her latest book, unable to find the inspiration to continue with the day’s work. She’s frustrated and irritable, with Swale soon dialing back the clock to the 1940s, meeting the same temperamental personality, only 30 years younger, with Alice hounded by the local kids, who fill her letter box with garbage, labeling her an evil woman. The character is alone in her house, married to her research, giving her little patience for those who choose to disrupt her focus. She’s cold to the community, most pointedly to children, showcased in one scene where she purchases a chocolate bar not to give to a needy girl, but to enjoy herself, relishing the moment of humiliation. She’s a chain-smoking creature of solitude, but “Summerland” finds its plot in the arrival of Frank, a boy in need of shelter for a single week, with Alice unaware that she even signed up for such guardianship duty.

The screenplay details the abrasive relationship between Alice and Frank, with the older woman unsure what to do with sudden parenthood, annoyed by the guest’s interest in household items and her work. She eventually warms to Frank’s curiosity, commencing an education in folklore, including a glimpse of cloudlike Dover Castle, and her explanation of Summerland, which is a pagan vision of heaven. The pair finds a middle ground, and Frank has his own adventures with Edie, a coarse girl who shares his interest in the world around them. For Alice, digging deep into her archives reconnects her to memories of Vera, a lively friend who develops a romantic attraction to the writer, resisting her heart’s desire when considering the reality of a lesbian affair, including her need to have children. Swale mines the heartbreak with skill, gradually revealing all that’s contributed to Alice’s bitter worldview, finding some light again in Frank’s companionship and his nonjudgmental ways. Arterton plays these moments with complete grace, adding to an already excellent performance.

Summerland Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Summerland" offers a brighter palette reflecting the outdoorsy elements of the film. Warm sunshine and painted interiors are present, and greenery remains intact, visiting grasslands and beaches. Hues emerge with care from period costuming and makeup. Skintones are natural. Color is dialed up a bit during Alice's tender moments with Vera, reflecting the power of memory. Detail is clear throughout, capturing textured facial surfaces and fibrous outfits, which offer sweaters and wool suits. Locations are dimensional, reaching far off cliffs and islands. Interiors are highly decorated, offering viewers a large amount of wartime elements to examine. Delineation is satisfactory. Some banding and mild blockiness is detected.

Summerland Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a powerful frontal presence, with scoring cues supporting dramatic needs with rich instrumentation and slight increases in volume to best capture emotional swells. Orchestral sounds are sharp throughout, often feeding into the surrounds. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, securing performance choices and accents. Atmospherics handle comfortably, providing a circular sense of beach visits and animal life, and room tone is also appreciable. Mild panning effects are utilized. Low-end has its moments with heavier musical stings, and a bombing sequence carries the distant explosions.

Summerland Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes (16:55, HD) is likely meant for EPK inclusion, offering a collection of filmmaking moments, watching the cast and crew work on select scenes for "Summerland." There are no talking heads or even narration to help guide viewers, just fly-on-the-wall coverage of the production in motion as they set up shots, deal with the elements (the wind is no joke), and work with hair and makeup to get extras in their period looks. It's a fascinating sit, and the spareness of the featurette is refreshing.

• Interviews (HD) include writer/director Jessica Swale (8:43), actors Gemma Arterton (9:43), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (9:47), Penelope Wilton (4:11), Tom Courtenay (3:36), Dixie Egerickx (2:19), and Lucas Bond (2:27), producers Adrian Sturges (11:19) and Guy Heely (10:53), costume designer Claire Finlay-Thompson (1:44), set decorator Philippa Hart (6:37), art department designer Christina Moore (9:05), hair and makeup designer Lisa Cavalli-Green (2:29), production sound mixer Nigel Albermaniche (4:10), location manager Peter-Frank Dewulf (2:47), and unit stills photographer Michael Whatley (4:12). Topics include personal relationships with Swale and sharing respect for her original screenplay, character details, and examinations of individual roles on a film shoot, understanding how the machine works. All the conversations are captured on-set.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:26, HD) is included.

Summerland Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Summerland" is fairly reserved for the first two acts, adding some levity with Tom Courtenay's turn as a school administrator (he's highly amusing), with Swale saving some major dramatic dumps for the last act. One grand slap of reality is enough, but the helmer offers three, stumbling toward melodrama as she piles on the horror and accidents, also dipping a toe into romantic fantasy with one major reveal. And yet, "Summerland" doesn't crumble, kept alive by vibrant acting and Swale's commitment to providing something feel-good without losing the humanity of it all. Perhaps the movie gets a little grabby, but it earns it, endeavoring to communicate something about love and commitment.