''Summer Solstice'' is a 2005 German-produced two-part

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

, a sequel to the 2000 novel ''Winter Solstice'' by

Rosamunde Pilcher Rosamunde Pilcher, OBE (''née'' Scott; 22 September 1924 – 6 February 2019) was a British novelist, best known for her sweeping novels set in Cornwall. Her books have sold over 60 million copies worldwide. Early in her career she was publis ...

, which was made a television film in 2004. The film, however, is not based on a novel, but was written by Pilcher directly for the screen. It stars

Jason Durr Jason Durr (born 2 December 1967) is a British actor of theatre, television and film. Durr made his television debut as Alex Hartman in 1990 in the sci-fi drama '' Jupiter Moon'' in 1990 and went on to star as Mike Bradley in the Yorkshire-base ...

Jacqueline Bisset Winifred Jacqueline Fraser Bisset ( ; born 13 September 1944) is a British actress. She began her film career in 1965 and first came to prominence in 1968 with roles in ''The Detective (1968 film), The Detective'', ''Bullitt'', and ''The Sweet ...

Sinéad Cusack Sinéad Moira Cusack ( ; born 18 February 1948) is an Irish actress. Her first acting roles were at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, before moving to London in 1969 to join the Royal Shakespeare Company. She has won the Critics' Circle and ''Eve ...

Honor Blackman Honor Blackman (22 August 1925 – 5 April 2020) was an English actress and singer, known for the roles of Cathy Gale in '' The Avengers''Aaker, Everett (2006). ''Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. ...

and

Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), which made him a pop cul ...

Plot

''Summer Solstice'' continues the story from ''Winter Solstice'' three years later, in the summertime. As then, the story is set in the Scottish Highlands. Sam and Carrie's newly formed business empire is struggling. The exclusive Rhives Castle Hotel is not attracting enough guests and The Langmore and Highland Gazette, the local newspaper which they own, has run a potentially libellous story concerning best-selling author, Alexia White. On top of everything Carrie has news which surprises Sam. Elfrida gets her big break when she is offered a small part in a soap opera, however, this is going to mean more time away from her beloved Oscar. Meanwhile Lucinda, The Countess of Rhives, is enjoying her new-found lease of life away from the burden of running the castle.

Release

The film was first shown on

ZDF ZDF (), short for (; ), is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Launched on 1 April 1963, it is run as an independent nonprofit institution, and was founded by all federal states of Germany ( ...

in Germany on 25 December 2005. In the United Kingdom, it first received a

straight-to-DVD Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strateg ...

release in 2006, but was later broadcast by Channel 5, with the first airing on 11 June 2012.Channel 5: ''Summer Solstice''
Linked 2013-06-12

References

External links

* British drama television films 2005 films 2005 television films German drama television films 2005 romantic drama films Films shot in Edinburgh English-language German films Television shows based on British novels ZDF original programming Films directed by Giles Foster {{UK-tv-film-stub