A New Kind of Wilderness

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A New Kind of Wilderness

Released Oct 25

1h 24m

Documentary

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89%

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18 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

On a small farm in a Norwegian forest, the Paynes live a purposefully isolated life, aiming to be wild and free. Maria and Nik, along with their four children Ulv, Falk, Freja, and Ronja are self-sufficient. They practice home-schooling and strive for a closely-knit family dynamic in harmony with nature. However, when tragedy strikes the family, it upends their idyllic world and forces them to forge a new path into modern society. In A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS, filmmaker Silje Evensmo Jacobsen captures an intimate and soulful portrait of love, life, and growing up. The Paynes' journey, their triumphs and struggles, invite reflection on our own life choices, our responsibility to the planet and our children, and how we navigate life after loss.

Daniel Fienberg

The Hollywood Reporter

I spent 40 minutes watching A New Kind of Wilderness and wondering what the documentary was supposed to be, and the last 44 minutes being simply and persuasively moved...

Jan 23, 2024

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Guy Lodge

Variety

It’s hard to say how interesting or idealized the film Jacobsen first conceived would have wound up being; it’s unlikely to have been as affecting as this one, which probes gently but insistently into fragile family dynamics...

Jan 20, 2024

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Tim Grierson

Screen International

The participants are not so inherently fascinating or complex that their grief results in gripping cinema. But it is to Jacobsen’s credit that she highlights how apparently minor decisions can suddenly feel weighty.

Jan 20, 2024

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Nadine Whitney

The Curb

A New Kind of Wilderness is a documentary suffused with magic, tragedy, and gaining wisdom both old and new.

Rated: B

Oct 26, 2024

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Overall, this is a lovely film about tenderness and family and living with a purpose rooted in love, but also how difficult it is in today’s economy to actually live solely off the land

Oct 26, 2024

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Its major strength is that it's well-shot with breathtaking scenery that captures the majestic quality of nature. However, it leaves too much underexplored.

Oct 22, 2024

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Annie P

Touching, intimate, vulnerable and beautifully shot. I wish more people were talking about this film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/03/24

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Jennie M

The film maker did a beautiful job capturing a family’s grief and hard life decisions, show casing each member’s journey to healing. My favorite movie this year by far! We’ll done, it won’t disappoint.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/07/24

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Gijs B

Beautiful and honest piece

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/24

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Silje Evensmo Jacobsen

Director

Henriette Faye-Schjøll

Voice

Siw Laurent

Voice

Silje Evensmo Jacobsen

Screenwriter

Mari Bakke Riise

Producer

Yngve Leidulv Sætre

Sound Designer

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Synopsis

On a small farm in a Norwegian forest, the Paynes live a purposefully isolated life, aiming to be wild and free. Maria and Nik, along with their four children Ulv, Falk, Freja, and Ronja are self-sufficient. They practice home-schooling and strive for a closely-knit family dynamic in harmony with nature. However, when tragedy strikes the family, it upends their idyllic world and forces them to forge a new path into modern society. In A NEW KIND OF WILDERNESS, filmmaker Silje Evensmo Jacobsen captures an intimate and soulful portrait of love, life, and growing up. The Paynes' journey, their triumphs and struggles, invite reflection on our own life choices, our responsibility to the planet and our children, and how we navigate life after loss.

Director: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen
Producer: Mari Bakke Riise
Screenwriter: Silje Evensmo Jacobsen
Production Co: A5 Film
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Norwegian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 24m