the fresh films reviews

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Skyggenes dal (2017)

Director:
Jonas Matzow Gulbrandsen
INTERNATIONAL TITLE
Valley of Shadows
COUNTRY
Norway
GENRE
Drama/Mystery
RUNNING TIME
91 minutes
Producer:
Alan R. Milligan
Screenwriter:
Jonas Matzow Gulbrandsen
Clement Tuffreau


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Aslak Adam Ekeli
Astrid Kathrine Fagerland ½
Lasse Lennard Salamon
Lasse's father Jone Hope Larsen

 

Review

Plot-heavy would not be a correct description of this moody, introspective piece by Norwegian first-time director Jonas Matzow Gulbrandsen. Although founded in a realistic universe and a Northern-European drama tradition, the film balances constantly and rather elegantly on the line to the supernatural, and Gulbrandsen's real trick here, and the film's best asset, is the way serious, grown-up matters are viewed through the eyes of the six year old lead-character. The filmmakers skilfully use the camera to take the big, scary world in through the eyes of the child, and demonstrate that we must all interpret, process and ultimately come to terms with events in our lives utilizing our own level of experience. In other words: Life must be lived by no other than yourself. It's relatable stuff for anyone who has been a child, even those who had forgotten how it was. Skyggenes dal is a slow-moving and in many ways uneventful film that may not catch the interest of everyone, but it's made with considerable amounts of thoughtfulness and flair by a clearly talented filmmaker. Worth a watch.

Copyright © 27.10.2017 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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