During the throes of the London Blitz, solitary writer Alice (Gemma Arterton, Vita & Virginia) is irritated to learn that a child evacuee is to be placed in her cliffside cottage. Upon his arrival, Frank innocently clings to Alice, knowing nothing of her reputation as the town’s eccentric, sharp-tongued witch. He’s curious about her research into the region’s pagan folklore; and his openness sends her ruminating on a passionate love story that Alice buried long ago. The more she excavates bittersweet memories, the more the bond between Alice and Frank strengthens; even as she tries to pawn him off to other families, their shared experiences of isolation and abandonment draw them inexorably together.

Gorgeously shot on the coast of Kent, Summerland is anchored by Arterton’s fierce performance, complemented by wonderful supporting turns from Tom Courtenay (The Dresser), Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey), Gugu Mbatha-Raw as the beautiful long-ago lover, and a stunning debut by young Lucas Bond as Frank. The sweeping, romantic story from first-time writer/director Jessica Swale proves love just might come back around.