WIFF Review: Hans Petter Moland's 'Growth of the Soil' Set in Norway

"We can do it." "We did it." Another film flying under the radar at fall film festivals this year is a Norwegian naturalistic film titled Growth of the Soil, based on the book of the same name by acclaimed Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland (of The Beautiful Country, When Bubbles Burst, In Order of Disappearance, Out Stealing Horses). It first premiered at TIFF and I caught up with it at the 2026 Warsaw Film Festival. It's one of many new films that I've seen recently about women being given a chance to find their freedom & agency in a patriarchal world. Moland's movie seems to be Norway's version of Godland (about surviving in harsh nature) + Train Dreams (about a simple man witnessing the changes of society during the 20th century), with a dash of A Different Man thrown in during the second half as well. Pretty good overall. Utterly gorgeous to look at, every single frame. One of these films where I think how did they shoot this?! I am in awe. Did they build that little house from scratch? Did they walk up a mountain every day to film it? How did they make it all so authentic with all the old clothes and tools and untouched land? Ultimately, I think I admire this film and what it's showing us, however I still enjoyed following this story of Isak & Inger. // Continue Reading ›

from FirstShowing.net https://ift.tt/6wVI54i

Share: