Norsk filminstitutt

What is sanity in an insane world?

In a small town in northern Norway, Eira tries to navigate in the shadows of her brilliant and rebellious older sister Vera. Lately something is happening to Vera. In quest of finding out what, Eira starts reading her diary. She enters Veras universe of intense light, glitter, mythology and hopes for a more beautiful world. Yet her diary reveals a darkness that Eira dosen’t know how to deal with.      

Franciska Eliassen about the film

When I   was 13 years old I experienced that a family member became mentally ill.   Twelve years later, with studies in environmentalism and philosophy behind   me, I see the individual's mental health as part of a larger debate about the   way we organise ourselves as a society. I belong to a generation that has   grown up in the wake of climate crisis, corona, terrorist threats and   financial crisis, in a world increasingly filtered through a screen.   Loneliness, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are unfortunately the normal rather   than the exception. The desire for change is huge. For what kind of future are we and the   sisters in the film facing if we continue on the same path as now? We predict   a future, possibly a lack of such, characterised by natural disasters, wars   and refugee flows that result from lack of resources, drought, extreme   weather, air pollution, epidemics and an ever-growing waste problem. One   becomes depressed by less, desperate by less. The big sister in Sister, What   Grows Where Land is Sick feels the despair. The character becomes a messenger   from our generation and all of us who believe we can create a more beautiful   world together. The hope is that Sister, what Grows Where Land is Sick? can   contribute to the discussion of changing our lifestyle, about the value of   investing in community, care, nature and culture.    

Production and distribution

Production Year:
2022
Production country:
Norway
Release date (national):
2023-03-17
Release date (international):
2022-08-08
Production company:
Franciska Eliassen
Producer:
Franciska Seifert Eliassen
Co producer:
Marte Hansen
Håkon Ludvig Grønvold

Director

  • Franciska Seifert Eliassen

    Franciska Eliassen (b.1997) works explore ecofeminism, geopolitics and our relation to nature. While doing her BA in film at the Nordland University College of Art and Film in Lofoten, she built a hut of soil and driftwood in the mountains where she lived for one and a half year. Know as "Norway's most primitive art residency" people now live there for free to connect to nature. Another notable work is her short film Blue borders, From the refugee camp Moria. The Film premiered at the prestigious annual National Art Exhibition in 2019 together with the pilot of Sister, What Grows Where Land is Sick? called Sister. She recently started a MFA at the National Academy of Arts in Oslo combining it with ecology, philosophy and AI honours studies at the University in Oslo. She is also a committed climate activist, investigating new approaches to a sustainable future through her artistic practise.

    Franciska Seifert Eliassen

Cast

Ruby Dagnall
Keira LaHart

Awards

2022:
Festival del film Locarno
Special Mention

Festivals

2022:
Festival del film Locarno
2022:
Reykjavik International Film Festival
2022:
Nordic Film Days Lübeck
2022:
European Film Forum Scanorama
2023:
TIFF - Tromsø International Film Festival
2023:
Scandinavian Film Festival Los Angeles
2023:
Göteborg International Film Festival
2023:
Transilvania International Film Festival
2023:
Ceau, Cinema! European Film festival Timisoar
2023:
New Horizons International Film Festival
2023:
Seoul International Women's Film Festival
2023:
Münster Film Festival
2023:
ArteKino Festival

Crew

Director:
Franciska Seifert Eliassen
Screenplay:
Franciska Seifert Eliassen
Editor:
Franciska Seifert Eliassen
Sound Design:
Franciska Seifert Eliassen
Matias Frøystad
Sound engineer:
Matias Frøystad
Cinematographer:
Henrik Lande Andersen
Camera:
Iggy Augunset
Composer:
Elina Waage Mikalsen
Evelina Petrova
ProductionDesigner:
Franciska Seifert Eliassen
Sound Recording:
Ellen Vikström
Costume Designer:
Natalie Seifert Eliassen

Technical information

Genre:
Drama
Magical realism
Format:
DCP 2k
Screen ratio:
16:9
Colour:
Colour
Sound format:
Stereo 5.1
Length in min's:
80'
Language:
Norwegian
Subtitles:
English

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