Songs of Earth explained

Songs of Earth
Native Name:
Translation:Fatherland
Director:Margreth Olin
Editing:Michal Leszczylowski
Studio:Speranza Film
Distributor:Norsk Film distribusjon
Runtime:90 minutes
Country:Norway
Language:Norwegian
Gross:[1]

Songs of Earth (Norwegian: Fedrelandet) is a 2023 Norwegian documentary film written and directed by Margreth Olin. In the film, Olin follows her 85-year-old father through a year in the natural surroundings of Oldedalen in Vestland, where he grew up.[2] [3] The film had its world premiere during the documentary film festival CPH:DOX in Denmark on 18 March 2023,[4] and a Norwegian cinema premiere on 1 September of the same year.[5]

The film was selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[6] On December 7, it appeared in the eligible list for consideration for the 2024 Oscars,[7] but didn't make the shortlist.[8]

Content

The film portrays Olin's existential journey with her own ageing parent in the backdrop of mountainous landscapes of Norway for a year. It is a cinematic work about life, death, nature and about simply being present in the world. Olin's parents’ love and lifelong loyalty bear quiet witness to how surroundings and inner space resonate with each other.

Production

The film production was supported by The Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Oslo-based agency. It received fund of 59,000 in 2021.[9]

Release

In May 2023, the film competed at the Trento Film Festival and had its Italian premiere in Trento, Italy.[10]

On 20 July 2023, the film was screened at the New Horizons Film Festival in Wrocław, Poland.[11] In August 2023, it was screened at the Norwegian International Film Festival in the 'Human Nature' theme of the main programme,[12] and at the 23rd edition of Dokufest, at Kosovo.[13]

Songs of Earth was screened in TIFF Docs at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on 14 September 2023.[14] [15] It was also screened in the second week of October at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival[16] and then, at the Hamptons International Film Festival for United States premiere.[17] In the same month, on 19 October 2023, it was screened at the 14th La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival in Vendée, France.[18]

The film was selected at the 65th edition of the Lübeck Nordic Film Days, and was screened on 3 November 2023 at Lübeck, Northern Germany.[19] A week later, it was screened at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam on 10 November 2023.[20]

On 20 October, it was reported that Strand Releasing bought the rights of the film for North American distribution.[21]

Reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10.[22]

Vladan Petkovic reviewing for Cineuropa highlighted that the film is so well made that "it puts the big-budget nature documentaries to shame with its visuals, music and sound." Concluding Lemercier wrote, "Even if the visuals, sound design and score are more impressive than in any big-budget nature documentary, it is the finely developed personal dimension that brings out the meaning and the message of the film, which is made all the more poignant by the carefully devised tone and balance in the directorial approach.".[23]

Alissa Wilkinson writing in Vox Media gave positive review and wrote, "A remarkable, poetic meditation, Songs of Earth weaves the smallness of human lifespan into the grandness of the earth’s history, and does it all with unspeakable beauty."[24]

Wendy Ide in the review for ScreenDaily gave positive views and opined that Margreth Olin began "this lyrical, strikingly beautiful project, returning to her childhood home in Oldedalen, in Western Norway and accompanying her 84 year-old father" with a first-rate specialist team, of cinematographer, sound recordist and composer Rebekka Karijord; and "the result is an arresting study of this particularly photogenic corner of Norway which repays a big-screen viewing." Ide concluded, "Jorgen’s [Olin's father] whole message is that we should not get so absorbed by concerns about the past – or indeed the future – that we lose our connection to the present."[25]

Accolades

AwardDateCategoryRecipientResult
Kraków Film Festival21 June 2023Samsung Excellence Line award for exceptional image qualitySongs of Earth[26]
IDA Documentary Awards12 December 2023Best CinematographyLars Erlend, Tubaas Øymo[27]
Best Original Music ScoreRebekka Karijord
Cinema Eye Honors12 January 2024Outstanding ProductionMargreth Olin[28]
Outstanding CinematographyLars Erlend, Tubaas Øymo
Outstanding Original ScoreRebekka Karijord

Listicle

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Songs of Earth . 23638508. 3 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Hyller foreldrene i ny film – mistet moren rett før premieren . Tribute to parents in new film - lost her mother just before the premiere . Turi Grønbech. NRK . Naver. September 1, 2023. October 27, 2023. no.
  3. Web site: Songs of Earth. Margreth. Olin . 16 March 2023. 27 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  4. Web site: CPH:DOX celebrates its 20th edition and unveils its full programme. Vassilis . Economou . 28 February 2023. 27 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  5. Web site: Songs of Earth (Fedrelandet) . 18 March 2023. 27 October 2023 . Norwegian Film Institute . en.
  6. Web site: European titles submitted for the Oscars race . 17 October 2023. 27 October 2023 . . en.
  7. News: Academy Announces 288 Eligible Titles for Animated, Documentary and International Feature Oscar Races . Clayton Davis . . December 7, 2023 . December 7, 2023 . en.
  8. Web site: 96th Oscars Shortlists Announced for 10 Categories . 21 December 2023. 22 December 2023 . Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . en.
  9. Web site: Abbatescianni . Davide . 20 September 2021 . The Nordisk Film & TV Fond supports nine new projects . 27 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  10. Web site: Trento Film Festival: quattro film sulla montagna come mèta per ritrovare se stessi . Trento Film Festival: four films about the mountains as a destination to rediscover yourself. Marino Midena . La Repubblica. 28 April 2023. 28 October 2023. it.
  11. Web site: Songs of Earth (Fedrelandet). 20 July 2023. 27 October 2023 . New Horizons Film Festival. en.
  12. Web site: Songs of Earth (Fedrelandet). 19 August 2023. 27 October 2023 . Norwegian International Film Festival. en.
  13. Web site: Songs of Earth (Fedrelandet). 2 August 2023. 27 October 2023 . International Documentary and Short Film Festival. en.
  14. Web site: TIFF 2023 Adds Documentaries by Frederick Wiseman, Errol Morris, Raoul Peck, Roger Ross Williams & More . Scott Roxborough . The Film Stage . July 26, 2023 . 27 October 2023. en.
  15. Web site: A closer look at the European presence at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival . Elena . Lazic . July 31, 2023. 27 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  16. Web site: Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Reveals Lineup For 32nd Edition, Announces Mary Steenburgen As Honorary Chair . Carey . Matthew. 20 September 2023. 28 October 2023. Deadline Hollywood . en.
  17. News: Hamptons International Film Festival Unveils Full Slate Including Bradley Cooper’s ‘Maestro’ as Closing Night Picture (EXCLUSIVE) . Brent Lang. Variety. 14 September 2023 . 28 October 2023 . en.
  18. Web site: La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival pulls out all the stops . Fabien . Lemercier . 16 October 2023. 27 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  19. Web site: Nordic Film Days presents a rich selection of titles for its 65th edition . Teresa . Vena . 26 October 2023. 27 October 2023 . Cineuropa . en.
  20. Web site: Songs of Earth (Fedrelandet). 26 October 2023. 27 October 2023 . International Documentary Film Amsterdam . en.
  21. News: Norway’s Oscar Entry ‘Songs of Earth’ Finds North American Distribution With Strand Releasing (EXCLUSIVE) . Elsa Keslassy. Variety. October 20, 2023 . October 28, 2023 . en.
  22. Song of Earth (2023, Documentary) . songs_of_earth . m . February 20, 2024.
  23. Web site: Review: Songs of Earth. Vladan. Petkovic . 20 March 2023 . . 27 October 2023.
  24. Web site: Songs of Earth . Alissa Wilkinson . Vox Media . 25 February 2023 . 26 October 2023. en.
  25. Web site: 'Songs Of Earth': CPH:DOX Review. Wendy . Ide . June 20, 2023 . October 28, 2023 . ScreenDaily. en.
  26. Web site: Songs of the Earth - the most beautiful document of the 63rd KFF in cinemas in winter . 21 June 2023. 27 October 2023 . The Krakow Film Foundation . en.
  27. Web site: 'Apolonia, Apolonia,' 'The Mother Of All Lies,' 'Milisuthando' Lead Way As IDA Documentary Awards Announces Nominees – Full List. Carey. Matthew. 21 November 2023. Deadline. 31 December 2023.
  28. Web site: ‘The 1619 Project,’ ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ Lead Charge As Cinema Eye Honors Announces First Round Of Documentary Nominations [Full List]]. Deadline. Matthew. Carey. 19 October 2023. 23 December 2023.
  29. Web site: DOC NYC, Key Indicator for Oscars’ Documentary Feature Category, Announces Shortlist Including ‘American Symphony’ and ‘Every Body’. Davis . Clayton . 17 October 2023. 23 December 2023. Variety . en-US.