SUMMERLAND [2020] [Blu-ray] [USA Release] Love, Magic, and Hope in War Torn England!
Alice Lamb is a reclusive writer, resigned to a solitary life on the seaside cliffs of Southern England while World War Two rages across the channel. When Alice Lamb opens her front door one day to find she’s to adopt a young London evacuee named Frank, she’s resistant. It’s not long, however, before the two realize they have more in common in their pasts than Alice Lamb had assumed. Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha- Raw and Tom Courtenay star in this intensely emotional story of loves endurance in trying times.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2020 Norwegian International Film Festival: Win: Ray of Sunshine Award for Director Jessica Swale.
FILM FACT No.2: ‘SUMMERLAND’ filming was underway by September 2018, production occurring throughout East Sussex in the towns of Seaford & Brighton as well as in the county of Kent. During October 2018 production filmed at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent at various locations that included Sail and Colour Loft exterior, Church Lane, Ropery exterior to double as East London streets during the Blitz. Captain's House on Officer's Terrace features as a bombed-out house while the cellars of the Fitted Rigging House on Anchor Wharf doubled as an air raid shelter. Filming had concluded by November 2018.
Cast: Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Penelope Wilton, Tom Courtenay, Lucas Bond, Dixie Egerickx, Siân Phillips, Amanda Root, Jessica Gunning, David Horovitch, Martina Laird, Amanda Lawrence, David Ajao, Thomas Coombes, Rakhee Thakrar, Fergal McElherron, Sally Scott, Toby Osmond, Joshua Riley, Nimmy March, Aoibhine McFlynn, Nina Beagley, Eden Lawrence, Dominic McGreevy, Harry Seymour, Casper Allpress, Innesaaiy Kabilan, Claire Ashton (uncredited), Jason Christopher (uncredited), Nick Davison (uncredited), Daniel Eghan (uncredited), Karl Farrer (uncredited), Marie Hamm (uncredited), Ty Hurley (uncredited), Bernardo Santos (uncredited) and Matt Truman (uncredited)
Director: Jessica Swale
Producers: Adrian Sturges, Emma Berkofsky, Gemma Arterton, Greg McManus, Guy Heeley, Hugo Grumbar, James Atherton, Jan Pace, Natascha Wharton, Tim Haslam and Zygi Kamasa
Screenplay: Jessica Swale
Composer: Volker Bertelmann
Costumes: Claire Finlay-Thompson
Cinematography: Laurie Rose, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Descriptive Audio
Subtitles: English SDH and Spanish
Running Time: 99 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: IFC Independent Film / British Film Institute / UK National Lottery
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: This feature film debut of Olivier Award-winning British playwright, theatre director and screenwriter Jessica Swale, shows us ‘SUMMERLAND’ [2020] and is a very emotive story of female empowerment set against the backdrop of the Second World War. In the lead role, Gemma Arterton as Alice Lamb is justifiably radiant as usual as did this wonderful heart-warming actress shine in the brilliant award winning film ‘Their Finest.’
On another note, it’s an inspired casting of Gemma Arterton as the Younger Alice Lamb with Penelope Wilton as the Older Alice Lamb showing us the same character at different ages – and they’re often in the same casting pool for this wonderful and inspiring British film, where there’s a lovely, uncanny continuity across the whole film and at the same time makes you feel good. Back in the 1940s, Tom Courtenay, Siân Phillips, and Jessica Gunning add some local colour to the proceedings as they constantly talk about the mysterious Miss Lamb.
The film ‘SUMMERLAND’ opens in the 1970s, with the older curmudgeonly writer Alice Lamb [Penelope Wilton] looking wistfully out of her window at the White Cliffs of Dover. Three decades earlier, Alice Lamb [Gemma Arterton] is a recluse – Tom Courtenay’s school head calls her “the beast on the beach” – writing rather dry-sounding academic theses about folklore during the war. Evacuee child Frank [Lucas Bond] is forced upon her, despite her protestations. Initially cold towards the youngster, Alice Lamb softens and recalls her youthful romance with fellow student Vera [Gugu Mbatha-Raw], as well as the circumstances that led to their separation.
London is under bombardment during the Blitz, children are being moved en masse to the south coast and young Frank finds himself billeted with Alice Lamb, a reclusive writer who lives on the outskirts of a seaside village and has no intention of taking in an evacuee. As well as having to cope with her unwanted young guest, she’s still troubled by heart breaking memories of a relationship from the late 1920’s – the reason for her solitary lifestyle. As to the young boy Frank becomes more settled in Alice Lamb’s home and the two start to find common ground, then Frank receives very tragic news from home which proves to be something of a turning point for Frank and, unexpectedly, for Alice Lamb.
Kent, England 1940. Alice Lamb is a fiercely independent writer who prizes her solitude. Haunted by an unhappy love affair, where Alice Lamb occupies herself with her work and when Frank, an evacuee from the Blitz is unexpectedly placed in her care, resolves to quickly be rid of him. But as the spirited young boy Frank opens up to her, Alice Lamb begins to reconsider her past and her own way forward, discovering new resources within herself and new possibilities for her future.
Photographed with a beautifully wistful air by the equally professional cinematographer Laurie Rose, ‘SUMMERLAND’ has an almost chocolate box look to it, with wonderful fond memories and full of hazy summer sunshine that gives the film a dream like quality and fittingly so, but you’ll have to see the film to understand why. It recreates the atmosphere of village life very nicely, with Alice Lamb nicknamed “The Witch” by the local children and the target for all manner of annoying nuisance pranks, simply because Alice Lamb lives alone and doesn’t care much for children or, indeed, anybody else. Directed with affection by the brilliant Jessica Swale – it’s her debut feature film and Jessica Swale also wrote the screenplay and it boasts a cast with a serious pedigree, plus a couple of child actors – Lucas Bond in particular – who more than holds his own in stellar company.
For some, there will be moments of ‘SUMMERLAND’ that can either be incredibly well-worn or very emotional that tugs at the heart strings in a nice sentimental British historical drama which ‘SUMMERLAND’ neatly fits into that genre. However, it's in the narrative shift that occurs roughly halfway through the film that makes ‘SUMMERLAND’ really special, even if shots from the film could fit into the visual style of almost any other film of this genre. An off-screen death alters the course of the story as it becomes a meditation on the loss of love and how the grief it causes gives us two options; to shut it and the world out, or to let it in for the good of others, however painful that may be.
Gemma Arterton is fantastic as the young Alice Lamb, playing the script's more cliché moments with a brilliant and great aplomb professional performance. A key component of ‘SUMMERLAND’ is the relationship between Frank and young Alice Lamb, and despite the rocky beginnings of the film, they are really lovely to watch together and are one of my favourite onscreen character pairings of 2020. It's also difficult to not spend this entire review singing the praises of Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who continues to impress no matter what role she tackles or how much screen time she has. Without giving too much away, Gugu Mbatha-Raw's character Vera is to blame for Alice Lamb's emotional baggage. Gemma Arterton as Alice Lamb's chemistry is totally magnetic and authentic, making Alice Lamb's pain all the more heart-breaking.
‘SUMMERLAND’ is a wonderful cosy warm glow of a film. At its heart, it’s about the friendship Alice Lamb forges with Frank and the pair share a sweet, but albeit thin, dynamic. The young Lucas Bond is strong in his role and he has veritable chemistry with Gemma Arterton is on excellent form here. While it does feel too restricted by convention, there is enough here to admire Jessica Swale’s effort. Though the film, surprisingly, concludes on a hopeful note, it indulges every dour cliché along the way.
The film ‘SUMMERLAND’ may begin as your archetypal British wartime drama, but just as the characters are continuously surprised, so will viewers be, as it slowly begins to tug at your heartstrings. ‘SUMMERLAND’ is full of charm, and it never compromises on its more moving, profound elements. It's an impressive juggling act for director Jessica Swale, who manages to balance the matriarchal narrative between Alice Lamb and Frank with the horrors of war, as well as the vital romantic narrative that we see through flashbacks. There is certainly something magical about ‘SUMMERLAND’ and set against a beautiful seaside backdrop with the threat of World War II looming in the distance, ‘SUMMERLAND’ feels like a triumph against themes of loss and heartbreak, leaving the viewer with a real sense of hope. But be warned, it is at times a very emotional roller coaster ride and at times you will have to have the Kleenex tissues to hand and definitely by the end of the film you will be an emotional wreck and I am very angry this film should have received massive amounts of awards, is there no justice in this world, because by the end of the film I was an emotional wreck and despite this, I feel this shows you when a film is totally amazing.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – IFC Independent Film and the British Film Institute presents us the film ‘SUMMERLAND’ with a brilliant 1080p image and really brilliant enhanced with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The film itself 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. Skin tones are very natural. Detail is very clear throughout the film, and captures wonderful 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. Please Note: On the back of the Blu-ray cover it states that it is Region A/1, well this is false information, whereas I have given you the right information of informing you this Blu-ray disc is All Regions.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – IFC Independent Film and the British Film Institute brings us the film ‘SUMMERLAND’ with a wonderful 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound mix and provides a powerful frontal presence, with the composed film score 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.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Behind the Scenes [2018] [1080p] [1.78:1] [16:55] With this special feature, here we get a sneak peek behind-the-scene filming and 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 on what we view, just a fly-on-the-wall coverage of the production in motion as they set up scenes to shoot, deal with the outdoor elements and especially the wind you hear, and work with the hair and make-up to get the extras into their period costumes. We also get to see behind-the-scene filming of scenes that were eventually deleted for some unknown reason. All in all, it's a fascinating view of what goes on behind-the-scene filming, and is very refreshing and very interesting, especially if you love the film ‘SUMMERLAND’ like I do very much.
Special Feature: Interviews: Here with this special feature we get to meet the cast and crew from the film ‘SUMMERLAND’ and are split up into different interviews and again you can either watch each interview separately or play all. Anyway, with each interview they get to talk in-depth about all aspects of the film and the interviews are broken up into different headings relating to the film. Topics include personal relationships with Jessica Swale and sharing respect for her original screenplay, character details, and examinations of individual roles on the film shoot, and understanding how the machine works. All the conversations are captured on the film set in 2018 and they are as follows:
Jessica Swale [Writer/Director] [8:43] On how the project got started. On the inspiration for the film; On the casting of women; On casting Gemma Arterton; On the period of the film; On the audience; On Lucas; On the locations; On her background and On what Summerland is.
Gemma Arterton [Young Alice Lamb] [9:43] On joing the project; On the character of Alice Lamb; On Alice being a folklore historian; On Alice through the ages; On working with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, On Alice’s friendship with Frank; On Lucas Bond who plays Frank; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director and On what Summerland is.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw [Vera] [9:47] On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On the period of the film; On Vera meeting Alice; On Gemma Arterton; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On the locations; On the costumes; On Audience expectations; On what Summerland is and On the character of Frank.
Penelope Wilton [Older Alice Lamb] [4:11] On the script; On the older Alice and Vera; On Vera’s impact on Alice’s life; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On the costumes; On audiences expectations and On the living conditions of the past.
Tom Courtenay [Mr. Sullivan] [3:36] On being involved in the film; On the character of Mr. Sullivan; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On the locations; On the plot and What is “Summerland.”
Dixie Egerickx [Edie] [2:19] On the character of Edie; On Edie’s friendship with Frank; On Edie’s costume; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On the locations and On audiences expectations of Summerland.
Lucas Bond [Frank] [2:27] On the character of Frank; On the costume; On the character of Alice; On the process of making the film and On what Summerland is.
Adrian Sturges [Producer] [11:19] On getting involved with Summerland; On the period and setting of the film; On Gemma Arterton playing Alice; On the character of Edie; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On Tom Courtenay, as Mr. Sullivan; On the locations; On the audience and On the story of “Summerland.”
Guy Heely [Producer] [10:53] On getting involved with the project; On the theme and period of the project; On what the film focuses on; On the cast; On Gemma Arterton and Lucas Bond; On Alice’s cottage; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On what audiences can expect; On the characters of Alice and Vera and On what Summerland is.
Claire Finlay-Thompson [Costume Designer] [1:44] On costume idea from the script; On particular costumes; On the challenges of costume making and On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director.
Philippa Hart [Set Decorator] [6:37] On getting idea for the set design; On the research for the sets and On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director.
Christina Moore [Art Department Designer] [9:05] On the research and challenges; On working from the script; On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director; On the locations and On the history of the chosen locations.
Lisa Cavalli-Green [Hair and Make-up Designer] [2:29] On working on the project and Gemma Arterton’s hair and make-up; On the inspirations and On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director.
Nigel Albermaniche [Production Sound Mixer] [4:10] On experimenting with sound for the film; On the motions and pacing of the sound and On meeting Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director.
Peter-Frank Dewulf [Location Manager] [2:47] On filming at the College and Church; On shooting outside of London; On filming inside the cottages and On shooting in Kent.
Michael Whatley [Unit Stills Photographer] [4:12] On the role of the photographer; On inspirations; On Laurie Rose, the Cinematographer and On Jessica Swale, the Writer and Director.
Theatrical Trailers: Here we get to view two Original Theatrical Trailers and they are as follows: ‘PELÉ: Birth of a Legend’ [2015] [1080p] [2.39:1] [2:24] and ‘SUMMERLAND’ [2029] [1080p] [2.39:1] [2:26].
Finally, ‘SUMMERLAND’ goes beyond anything you have seen before and its narrative beats to deliver a very emotional moving story about love, loss and belonging. Its masterstroke, however, is in how it manages to take its devastating subject matter and present it in a mostly jaunty way and make sure you have plenty of tissues handy, and you definitely have the perfect film to escape from life in general. ‘SUMMERLAND’ is an adorable wartime story with a difference and the film looks beautiful, especially the scenery, especially the cliffs and coastal views, with stunning cinematography and again ‘SUMMERLAND’ moved me to tears, but it is a wonderful film about war, life, love, family, heartache, acceptance and new beginnings and well as showing off impressive filming locations of both East Sussex and Brighton in the UK. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
