Summerland is a 2020 British drama film written and directed by Jessica Swale. It stars Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Lucas Bond, Dixie Egerickx, Siân Phillips, Penelope Wilton and Tom Courtenay.
Alice Lamb (Arterton) is a reclusive writer who is forced to take in Frank (Bond), a young boy who was evacuated from his home in London during World War II. Reluctant and unapologetically brusque, she relents with the understanding that he has nowhere else to go and that it would only be for a week. During their short time together, the two begin to bond and Alice shares elements of her past such as a forbidden young love with a woman named Vera (Mbatha-Raw).
The film made its U.S. theatrical debut on July 31, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was shown in a very limited number of theaters before being released on DVD and various streaming platforms.
Not to be confused with the tabletop game or the young adult novel by the same name.
This film provides examples of:
- Affectionate Nickname: Alice called her lover Vera "V". Vera had called her "Al" in turn.
- All Lesbians Want Kids: Vera left Alice over her desire to have children, marrying a man so she could become a mother. Alice was left alone and unhappy after that. However, they get back together. Alice then becomes the second mother for Vera's son Frank.
- Anguished Outburst: When Edie slips that Frank's father had died in the war, the normally soft-spoken Frank yells at her before running off.
- Blitz Evacuees: Frank is from London, and has been sent out to a small Kent village to escape the Blitz. This is why he's placed in the care of Alice. Many other children have been too, with another girl later coming in from Belfast.
- Disappeared Dad: Alice lost her father in World War One, which devastated her. Later, Frank loses his own father in World War Two. Alice is left having to reveal this, but doesn't at first, unsure how she should. He's enraged by this and runs off, but they later bond over the fact.
- Due to the Dead: Alice tells Frank about how after losing her father, she did a miniature viking funeral on his behalf, launching a toy sea ship that she set on fire. He later does something similar in honor of his own deceased father, expect with a toy wooden plane that flies out over the Atlantic.
- Flashback Within a Flashback: The whole film is Alice reflecting on her life. Alice's past relationship with Vera is also shown by several of these within the first.
- Floating Continent: Alice is a folklorist who studies the stories of mysterious islands in the sky that people have reported, positing they're the result of mirages. Frank sees two during the film
- Framing Device: The film opens with Alice writing of her life before in 1975, showing what happened and how they led her up to that point via flashbacks.
- Gayngst: Alice expresses her anxiety over being a lesbian due to people viewing this as wicked and sinful. Frank doesn't get why this is an issue, which moves Alice to tears over his acceptance.
- Heaven: Discussed extensively by Alice and Frank. She doesn't believe in the Christian idea, but tells him about Summerland, the old Celtic pagan heaven. Frank later says he can see it, and his father is there.
- Hollywood Atheist: Alice tells Frank how spirits, God and any afterlife are things people had made up to comfort themselves in her view. She tries to find a scientific explanation for people seeing strange floating islands in the sky, though Alice does like the idea of Summerland, the old Celtic pagan Heaven. Alice is also bitter and unfriendly at first, though due to losing her lover (this isn't explicitly linked with her views). Even by the end Alice hasn't explicitly given up her disbelief in these things, although it seems she won't gainsay Frank saying he believes his father is now in Summerland. She also can't see the mysterious things Frank does.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: After learning Frank's father died and she's tasked to tell him, Alice's first act is pouring herself a drink.
- Lipstick Lesbian: Alice and Vera. They both have prim and proper looks, though Alice is a bit less in the present. Vera remains especially so. They were lovers during the 20s and get back together later.
- Loners Are Freaks: The local children think Alice is a witch, because of her solitary and hermit-like behavior.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: The film doesn't explicitly say if the mysterious islands in the sky that Frank sees are just a mirage or a glimpse of a real place beyond our world.
- Once More, with Clarity: Alice, after seeing Frank's photos of Vera and realizing that he's her son, recalls little things about them which they have in common, including the particular way they both smile.
- The One That Got Away: Alice has been reclusive and unhappy since Vera, her lover, left her years ago. Later it turns out this is because Vera wanted to have children. They get back together after meeting once again.
- Raised by Grandparents: Edie is brought up by hers, due to her mother being dead and her dad off at war.
- The Reveal: Frank is Vera's son (on a side note, he's also part black as a result, though this wasn't obvious since he passes for completely white, simply having curly hair), as Alice, Vera's former lover, learns to her shock. She'd been taking care of Frank without knowing (which it turns out Vera set up, believing in her abilities to keep her son safe).
- Title Drop: "Summerland" is the old Celtic pagan idea of Heaven, which Alice and Frank discuss extensively.
- Transparent Closet: Frank quickly realizes the woman whom Alice talks of from her past is the person she loved. He doesn't mind it, though Alice is more than a little anxious at first.
- Wanted a Gender-Conforming Child: Edie believes her grandparents have taken in another girl who's far more feminine because, as a tomboy, she disappointed them by not conforming to their ideal of femininity.
