Book to screen: “The Summer Book” now available to stream exclusively on Kanopy

The holidays are here—festive and busy as ever. As an antidote, our favorite films this time of year are often quiet and reflective. If you’re also craving a slowdown to the hustle and bustle, here’s a film and book pairing you shouldn’t miss: The Summer Book by Tove Jansson and the brand-new film adaptation streaming exclusively on Kanopy, directed by Charlie McDowell and starring eight-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close.

Check out the trailer:

A summer story that feels right for winter

Even though it’s set on a sunny Finnish island, The Summer Book is gentle meditation on grief and intergenerational bonds that feels especially relevant during the holidays, a season that’s all about family.

In the film, nine-year-old Sophia (Emily Matthews) spends the summer at her family’s seasonal home on a tranquil isle in the Gulf of Finland—but this will be her first summer without her mother. Her father (Anders Danielsen Lie) remains numbed by grief, while her grandmother (Glenn Close) gently guides her on a winding path toward young adulthood. Together, they explore the rugged terrain, celebrate midsommar, and test the limits of faith in the face of life’s many storms.

Adapted from Tove Jansson’s beloved 1970s literary classic, it’s a delicate account of growing up and growing old, beautifully filmed on 16mm in majestic natural light. With its tender regard for the wonders of the natural world and its sense of infinite possibility, this story feels like a reminder of resilience and connection during a season that often calls us home.

More on the author

Tove Jansson, whose Moomintroll comic strip and books brought her international acclaim, lived for much of her life on an island like the one described in The Summer Book, and the work can be enjoyed as her closely observed journal of the sounds, sights, and feel of a summer spent in intimate contact with the natural world.

If you want to read it before you see it, be sure to borrow the ebook or audiobook on Libby.

Where to watch: A Kanopy exclusive

The Summer Book (2024)
1hr 34min
Starring Emily Matthews, Glenn Close, and Anders Danielsen Lie

📺 Starting Dec. 16, you can stream it on Kanopy from your library.* This marks Kanopy's first narrative feature collaboration while serving as the exclusive public library and educational streaming platform for the release.

💳 This exclusive release is available free with your library card, and it’s the kind of indie gem that deserves your attention.

💬 Don’t miss this Kanopy Conversations episode where director Charlie McDowell will share insights about adapting this beloved book for the screen.

*Access to films may vary.

RELATED READ: How to get started streaming films on Kanopy for free