Between Summers (1995)
A shattering Swedish-Danish drama about a marriage undone by grief, guilt, and the unbearable silence that follows a child's death.
Between Summers - Movie Information
- Original Title: Sommaren
- Release Year: 1995
- Directed by: Kristian Petri, Stig Björkman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 52m
- Original Language: Swedish
- Spoken Languages: Danish, Swedish
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 31, 1995 (Sweden)
- Production Companies: Charon Film AB, Empe Film AB, Film og Lyd Produktion, GötaFilm, Triangelfilm, Svenska Filminstitutet, Nordisk Film & TV Fond
- Production Countries: Sweden, Denmark
Between Summers - Plot
Torun and Mikael have been married for a few years. When vacationing on the Danish coast, their young son Melker accidentally drowns. Torun initially blames her sister, who was supposed to supervise her children. Later she turns her anger and grief against her husband. Since none of them know what to do with their feelings, they start to drift apart.
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Between Summers - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Kristian Petri
- Stig Björkman
Main Cast
- Gunilla Röör
- Samuel Fröler
- Christopher Järredal-Antoniou
- Markus Johansson
- Lena Nilsson
- Jane Friedmann
- Allan Svensson
- Peter L. Abrahamsson
- Leif Andrée
- Axelle Axell
Writers
- Kristian Petri
- Stig Larsson
Between Summers - FAQs
What is Between Summers about?
Between Summers follows Torun and Mikael, a married couple whose lives are devastated when their young son Melker drowns during a holiday on the Danish coast. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, Torun turns her anger first on her sister, then on her husband, and the two slowly drift apart as they struggle to cope.
Who directed Between Summers?
Between Summers was co-directed by Kristian Petri and Stig Björkman. The two Swedish filmmakers collaborated on this emotionally intense drama, which was released in Sweden in August 1995 and stands as a quietly powerful entry in Scandinavian cinema of the mid-1990s.
Who are the main actors in Between Summers?
The film stars Gunilla Röör as Torun and Samuel Fröler as Mikael, the grieving couple at the heart of the story. The cast also includes Lena Nilsson, Jane Friedmann, Allan Svensson, Leif Andrée, and a young Mikael Persbrandt in a supporting role.
How does grief affect the couple in Between Summers?
Rather than bringing Torun and Mikael closer, the loss of their son drives a wedge between them. Torun redirects her anguish outward — blaming her sister, then her husband — while neither partner finds a way to share their pain. The film traces how unspoken grief quietly dismantles a relationship from within.
When was Between Summers released?
Between Summers had its theatrical release in Sweden on August 31, 1995. It is a Swedish-Danish co-production, and its late-summer release date feels fitting given the film's seaside setting and its meditation on the fragile, fleeting nature of happiness.
What language is Between Summers in?
The film is primarily in Swedish, with Danish also spoken — reflecting its status as a Swedish-Danish co-production set partly on the Danish coast. If you enjoy Scandinavian cinema and don't mind subtitles, the naturalistic dialogue and restrained performances make it well worth the watch.
What films are similar to Between Summers?
If Between Summers resonates with you, you might also appreciate A White, White Day (2019), R.M.N. (2022), A Wedding (2017), and Oskar's Dress (2022). These films share a similar emotional register — quiet, character-driven dramas that explore grief, family fracture, and the weight of unspoken feeling.
How long is Between Summers?
Between Summers runs for 112 minutes — just under two hours. The film uses that runtime deliberately, allowing grief and tension to accumulate slowly rather than rushing toward resolution, which gives its emotional beats a raw, lived-in quality that lingers well after the credits roll.
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