Sundance 2024 review: ‘A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS’ wades through grief with grace

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A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS

A life chronicled most intimately and authentically, the Payne family experiences physical and emotional upheaval after a family tragedy. Choosing to raise their family on a secluded farm in the woods of Norway, Maria and Nik wanted nothing more than to instill a love of nature into their children. Potentially forced to sell the beloved farm that holds all their memories, Nik, Freja, Falk, Ulv, and eldest daughter Ronja navigate unfathomable loss and fight to remain connected.

Through Maria’s striking photography, home videos, and extraordinary voiceover narration, throughout several years, filmmaker Silje Evensmo Jacobsen evokes visceral hope and sadness in A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS. Exploring one family’s respect for the land, unique homeschooling, and off-grid lifestyle, Nik battles societal norms that Maria vowed to circumnavigate and financial limitations. The children are undeniably self-aware. Their openness with their emotions is breathtaking. When school thrusts technology upon them for the first time, they take to it like fish to water, much to the chagrin of Nik, but their wild essence never wanes as they long to hold onto their way of life. The film speaks to the resiliency of youth.

Witnessing the pure innocence and wonder of the Payne children hits you in the heart. It is easy to dismiss the genuine curiosity of your kids with the swirl of everyday chaos. Sundance 2024 audiences have the honor of joining together on an elegant meditation of grief and loneliness. A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS reminds us to cherish each moment, the Earth, and one another.


Click here for more information on screenings and online availability for A NEW IND OF WILDERNESS


 

Silje Evensmo Jacobsen

Silje Evensmo Jacobsen, director of A New Kind of Wilderness

Silje Evensmo Jacobsen has directed award-winning documentary films and series for the past 15 years. Among others: Team Ingebrigtsen (2016, 2018) about an unconventional Norwegian family raising their children to be top runners, Faith Can Move Mountains (2021) about nuns breaking boundaries in rural Norway, and KRAFT/SPARK (2022) about young street dancers. A New Kind of Wilderness is her second feature.

 

Credits

  • DIRECTOR(S)

    SILJE EVENSMO JACOBSEN

  • PRODUCER

    MARI BAKKE RIISE

  • EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

    KIM CHRISTIANSEN

  • CINEMATOGRAPHY

    SILJE EVENSMO JACOBSEN

    KARINE FOSSER

    LINE K. LYNGSTADAAS

  • EDITORS

    KRISTIAN TVEIT

    CHRISTOFFER HEIE

  • COMPOSER

    OLAV ØYEHAUG

  • SOUND DESIGNER

    YNGVE LEIDULV SÆTRE

  • COLORIST

    TOM CHR. LILLETVEDT

  • FEATURING

    ULV VATNE PAYNE

    FALK VATNE PAYNE

    FREJA VATNE PAYNE

    RONJA BREDA VATNE

    MARIA GROS VATNE

    NIKOLAUS ITHELL PAYNE

  • PRODUCTION COMPANY

    A5 FILM

  • YEAR

    2024

  • CATEGORY

    FEATURE

  • COUNTRY

    NORWAY

  • LANGUAGE

    ENGLISH, NORWEGIAN

  • RUN TIME

    84 MIN


BUFF 2023 review: It’s the battle of the narcissists in Kristoffer Borgli’s ‘SICK OF MYSELF’

SICK OF MYSELF

Not to be outdone by her narcissistic boyfriend, Signe manufactures drama to remain in the spotlight. The couple is absolute fraud who will do anything for attention. Their toxicity is contagious, figuratively speaking. When Signe finds that she receives less attention, she goes to drastic lengths to reclaim it.

The line between fantasy and reality blurs often enough to keep you guessing. This unhinged story of mental illness is undeniably shocking. Even more surprising is the message of disability treatment. Writer-director Kristoffer Borgli manages to weave this aspect into the story, if only briefly, before returning to the root of Signe’s narcissism. The special effects makeup team gives audiences a progressively evolving visual of Signe’s condition. It is eye-catching work. Costumes and color schemes noticeably pop, reminding us that this is a comedy.

Kristine Kujath Thorp is magnificent as Signe. Her ability to cry on cue serves the character at any given moment. Her self-absorption knows no bounds, and Thorp leans into obsessive and damaging behavior like a pro. Her performance feels effortless.

SICK OF MYSELF becomes a girl who cried wolf story. Through her self-mutilating plot, Signe is her worst enemy. But an addict only has two choices; feed the need or get better. A scathing takedown of self-aggrandizing behavior, this film is a must-see at BUFF 2023.


Boston Underground Film Festival 2023