This adaptation of Tove Jansson’s novel stars Glenn Close as a grandmother who heads to the family’s cabin on an isolated island in a Finnish archipelago for the summer with her recently widowed son (Anders Danielsen Lie, Academy Award nominee for The Worst Person in the World) and her 9-year-old granddaughter Sophia (Emily Matthews). It’s one of those films where not a lot happens, but that’s the idea. It’s a meditation on grief and family and memory and the wonders of the natural world.
Grandmother and Sophia spend their days together while Dad is busy doing his illustration work and not really connecting with either of them. There is little said about what happened to his wife but it is clear that it has wrecked him, and Sophia thinks he’s stopped loving her, too. But Grandmother is there for her, showing her the island, introducing her to the secrets it holds, and sharing her memories and wisdom.
Glenn Close anchors the movie and young Emily Matthews, in her film debut, turns in a lovely performance. The healing properties of island and the cycles of the natural world are key to the story. As I said there isn’t a lot of action, and at one point even little Sophia prays for something to happen, “Like a storm. Anything.” She gets her wish with the one big dramatic moment of the film as she and grandmother are on another island and Dad is in a boat on the way, when a huge squall comes out of nowhere. But it does have the effect of finally bringing them together. And as they are reunited, grandmother’s job is done and it’s time for her to fade away.
This is one of those small films that showcases a lot of talent, but won’t be for mass audiences. I’d say save it for a rainy day with a cup of tea (or your favorite hot beverage) and curl up on the couch with your precious pet.
In theaters and coming to streaming services October 21st.