Glenn Close plays the lead role in the Finnish film Kesäkirjan.
An eight-time Oscar nominee with an amazing career Glenn Close see you soon premiere Tove Jansson’s based on the book Summer book– in the main role of the film.
At the start of the Zoom interview, Close wants to know what the author of this story thinks about Close’s accent in the film. In the summer book, when speaking English with a Swedish accent.
– Did you like it? I had a wonderful Finnish-Swedish actor teach me the right accent, Close smiles broadly.
It immediately becomes clear that Glenn Close is completely different from her well-known roles, such as, for example 101 Dalmatians – movie’s evil Cruella de Vil or A dangerous relationship obsessive Alex Forrest are.
Close seems warm, funny and genuinely interested in Finland.
Close says frankly that his basic knowledge of Finland was thin, so he began to study thoroughly before filming.
Emily Matthews and Glenn Close on the set of Kesäkirjan. Roxana Reiss
– I read a great Finnish book, it was called The unknown soldier. I read a lot about Finnish history. Oh, and I also read Mannerheim’s biography.
Close spent a lot of time in Finland on the set, and she got to know the Finnish working group of the film. Close says he is particularly interested in the ceded Karelia.
– I started asking the film’s working group if their grandparents had to move out of Karelia, which was occupied by Russia. And it was really fascinating to hear that yes, the war had affected many of their relatives.
According to Close, it is fascinating how Finns realize that they are specifically Finns, even though influences come from both Russia and Sweden.
– But Finns always have this great feeling that they are Finns. This is significant to me.
While in Finland, Close was allowed to be in peace. Of course, some could recognize Close walking his little dog Pip in Ruttopuisto in the heart of Helsinki, but few dared to approach him.
Close is not much of a shopper, but he found two stores in Helsinki that particularly stuck in his mind.
– I found an absolutely wonderful bookstore, I love books. I also went to buy Mari… what is it, Marimekkoa, exactly!
A stone as a souvenir
Finnish nature plays a big part in Kesäkirja, as the film was shot on the islands.
– It was heaven! I’m a nature girl. My head wouldn’t hold together if I didn’t get out into nature regularly.
Glenn Close and Emily Matthews on the island. Roxana Reiss
There seems to be no end to Close’s exaggerations regarding Finnish nature.
– The island was so beautiful, the season was beautiful, the nature on the island was incredible, this was a really special experience for me. I walked around there and spent a lot of time in the woods with my dog. My dog loved exploring places.
Pip the dog apparently hears that he is being talked about, because the dog peeks into the camera in the middle of the interview and then changes position on the couch.
To confirm her words, Close bends down and shows the camera a large rock.
– I took this as a souvenir, Close laughs.
Naked in the woods
In one scene, Close walks without a leash around the forest.
– I loved it. I didn’t want to put clothes on, I was so comfortable without clothes.
The most challenging part of the filming was the masking, which for Close took more than three hours. In the film, Close’s grandchild is played by Emily Matthews, who was only 8 years old during filming. Because of this, filming could not last more than eight hours, so Close had to sit in a mask for three hours every day.
As a result, Close looks significantly older.
– I looked just like my grandmother! Now I know what I look like when the even older, 77-year-old Close smiles.
In Kesäkirja, Glenn Close is disguised to look older. Roxana Reiss
Close has acted in more than a hundred different films and television series in her career. Close laughs when asked why she would turn into a character for a day if it were possible.
– Not to anyone. I want to be me!
Finally, Close still needs to be asked what greetings she wants to say to her Finnish fans.
– I wish I could speak Finnish, I would say Finnish. I want to say that I love your country, it was a wonderful experience working there and I can’t wait to get back to Finland.
The summer book premieres on January 31.