Songs of Earth
2023 [NORWEGIAN]
Biography / Documentary

Plot summary
With Olin's 85-year-old father as guide, we experience Norway's most adventurous valley, Oldedalen in Nordfjord. He grew up here, and here generations before him have lived in balance with nature.
Director
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
This is not a film, it's a spiritual journey
Too personal to reach broader public
Granted, there will be a relatively small group of people who resonate with the storyline. I myself love nature, mountains, am in my mid-fifties, have my loved wife and daughter. I am not as old as the main character but I certainly can relate. But despite beautiful shots which are largely helped by the location and being able to relate to the character's story, the film feels too long. Even when the main character talks about time and the pace at which we get at things, suggesting we don't rush, the film still does feel dragged.
It starts as something more generalistic but soon goes into specifics of family history - then it loses part of its appeal. Much like a very personal tribute to her family, which would be best suited to their own and maybe not for general public.
Also, the idea of nature as places of outstanding beauty is very shallow. Nature is all around us, sometimes thriving, other times merely coping, but we should learn to see it everywhere, not only in the fjords of Norway or the mountains of the Himalayas.