Summerland: Love Triumphs In A Time of War
Source: IFC Films
There are so many films written about World War Two.
Most of these films are dastardly violent, as most are written by men, about the men fighting in it. Of course WWII was a momentous time in our history, and there have been several gorgeously made films about people’s struggles during this time, but the topic is a bit of a dead horse.
Because of this, I was hesitant to review this film, mainly because I am highly opposed to remakes and films filled with much of what has already been done.
However, Writer/Director Jessica Swale explores a new approach to this time, without making the war the focus. Instead, she composes a lesser seen centerpiece of this genre: Life living outside the war and one of love triumphing over great odds.
That is something that, especially in this day and age, we need to see a lot more of.
The Calm Amidst the Storm
Source: IFC Films
Alice (Gemma Arterton) is a loner living in a quaint cottage on the stunning white cliffs near Dover. Unlike most women of the day she is unmarried and focused heavily upon her writing, instead of family. This, of course, draws judgement and rumors about her from the people within the village.
Her life instantly changes, when she is called upon to care for Frank (Lucas Bond), an evacuee of London’s Blitz. Unprepared for any relationship, let alone a child, she rejects him and tries to pawn him off on someone else. Obstacles present themselves; Alice doesn’t get her way, which, like in a lot of films, turns out to be for her own good.
Though she’s cantankerous and hard on Frank at first, Alice finds that she has a lot in common with this young expellee and a true bond starts to form.
Lost Love
Throughout the story with Frank, we get to see the reason why Alice is so sullen and isolated. Interwoven flash backs tell the story of Alice’s long lost love Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a relationship beautifully portrayed by both Mbatha-Raw and Arterton.
Source: IFC Films
It’s a tender story of true love and some of the hardships they face attempting to manage a same sex relationship back when being queer was wholly untolerated.
Though they both love each other completely, Vera desires to be a mother above anything else. Given no other viable choice than to marry a man, Vera sets off on her own.
Broken-hearted, Alice never loves again and becomes the recluse we see at the start. Will they ever be reunited? Will Alice be able to overcome her grief enough to open her heart to Frank?
In All Honesty…
Summerland is a splendid, original film made the way they used to be. Back when Hollywood still produced actual originals, one could have seen a film like this on a lazy summer weekend.
It is full of heart, honesty, beauty and breathtaking cinematography. Arterton and Mbatha-Raw give poignant performances worthy of accolades. Their chemistry tingles and their longing is heart wrenching.
Source: IFC Films
They mastered the stages of love, starting with the electric nervousness of the first meeting to the agony and anguish of separation. Some might say that it is too sentimental and “sappy”, but they would clearly be the cynics who have never experienced true love, written in the stars.
Swale weaves in a good dose of folklore and earthly magic, getting Alice and audiences back in touch with their inner child. Though not based on a book, the film has all of the qualities of an engaging, period piece novel. Its locations are magnificent and liberating. From the white cliffs and rocky beaches, to the enchanting, rolling, green hills of England, it’s an escape for all of the senses.
The impassioned performances by Arterton and Mbatha-Raw brought me to tears, making me ache to see the characters reunited, in a perilous time where lives could be changed in seconds. It pushed to the forefront the heartbreaking reality of LGBTQ people living in this time, who could never freely express their love.
It was refreshing to experience a WWII story about people living their lives away from the violence of war. Summerland brings a sense of hope and belief that the power of love is greater than all of the ugliness of hate.
That is something we all need to hold on to when inevitable dark times persist. For love is what we truly are; all that we are seeking and the only thing worth fighting for.