It's time to explore the World According to Glenn. I'm Kevin Jacobsen, Glenn Close is my favorite actress, and this show is all about exploring the career of one of the finest actors of her generation. Each episode, I'm joined by a guest as we dive into one of Glenn's movies, TV shows, or stage productions, going chronologically through her career, discussing her performance, and assessing the project itself.

This week, on a very special episode, I interview Charlie McDowell, the director of The Summer Book! The film, based on Tove Jansson's beloved 1972 novel of the same name, stars Glenn Close as an elderly woman who cares for her granddaughter at her home on an idyllic island in the Gulf of Finland. With her young granddaughter reckoning with the death of her mother, Grandmother helps her come to terms with her grief while imparting valuable lessons as she herself approaches the end of her life.

In this conversation, we touch on how Charlie met Glenn and developed the character with her, the lengthy process of her physical transformation, his inspirations for the film, and how he connected to the story's themes of finding beauty in nature and the circle of life. I'm so excited for you all to hear our in-depth conversation!

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Theme Music: "Orchestral Podcast Intro" by DTChords

Artwork: Faisal R.