Ah, “My Summer in Provence”—a title that sounds like it should come with a lavender-scented postcard. I plopped down on my sofa, expecting 90 minutes of dreaming about French vineyards and the sort of endless summer we barely get here in Sweden. But hey, anticipation sometimes collides with reality, doesn’t it?

Imagine your classic fish-out-of-water story, with kids shipped off to their granddad’s rustic digs. I found myself nodding along to the cries of boredom from the city-weary teenagers. Remember those summers spent with your old folks, thinking they just don’t get it? My own morfar would take me fishing near Strömstad, his face lighting up at the simplest things in life—like watching us struggle with baiting a hook. There’s something universal in that, right?

Jean Reno plays the grandfather. That gruff demeanor, but with a twinkle in his eye that says “I’ve seen it all before.” I couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking of Ronny Svensson’s love for characters with layers, those complex beings—a bit like a well-cooked smörgåsbord.

Now, there’s a sequence with the sunflower field. Picture this: golden blooms, buzzing bees, and the sound of cicadas echoing around you. It’s enough to make anyone craving a Provencal escape. Yet, while visually stunning, the film occasionally feels like it’s McCann’s romanticism overload. Just a bit too much syrup on the pannkakor, you know?

But the heart’s there, nestled like snus under your lip, providing a warm, comforting feel. At times, it may meander—like a lazy, post-midsummer day—but it’s got charm. It’s an old sweater you can slip into, familiar and comforting, even though it’s slightly out of fashion.

I reckon “My Summer in Provence,” is best paired with a sommar cider in hand, as you kick back and nod to life’s little quirks. Here’s to grandparents and the summer adventures they usher us into. Better yet, watch the trailer and decide yourself.

Check the trailer here: My summer in Provence