The Song of Sway Lake

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2:07

The Song of Sway Lake

R

2018

1h 40m

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

100%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After his father's suicide, a young record collector and his friend go to his family's lake house to claim a valuable jazz recording. While he is there, encounters with his estranged grandmother and a neighbor dredge up years of family suffering.

Critics Consensus

The Song of Sway Lake benefits from alluring, evocative atmosphere, although it isn't always enough to compensate for a shaggy narrative and overall lack of focus.

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Kristen Yoonsoo Kim

Houston Press

10/17/2018

There's a grating fairy tale vibe to the film, especially when Ollie and Nikolai's motivations are narrated through an almost "once upon a time" tone.

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Adam Graham

Detroit News

09/21/2018

C-

In short, it's a mess -- an often lovely, atmospheric throwback with some clear personal flourishes, but a mess nonetheless.

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Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

09/21/2018

2/4

The attractiveness of the scenery, and a quiet, dignified performance by Ms. Peña in what could now be her last movie appearance, wind up being the main redeeming values here.

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Dominic Griffin

Spectrum Culture

07/17/2019

2/5

At least it looks pretty.

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Jordi Costa

El Pais (Spain)

06/07/2019

All in all, it is an unusual work and not without complexity, but not a marked and inconsistent indie affectation. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Robert W. Monk

Flickering Myth

02/21/2019

2/5

With scenes going from detective noir, to romance, to thriller, to dry comedy drama and then back again, it all becomes tiring, without a strong enough emotional depth to the characters to warrant much of the ruminative aspect

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Ari Gold

Director

Rory Culkin

Ollie

Robert Sheehan

Nikolai

Isabelle McNally

Isadora

Mary Beth Peil

Charlie Sway

Elizabeth Peña

Marlena

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The Song of Sway Lake: Trailer 1

2:07

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Synopsis

After his father's suicide, a young record collector and his friend go to his family's lake house to claim a valuable jazz recording. While he is there, encounters with his estranged grandmother and a neighbor dredge up years of family suffering.

Director: Ari Gold
Producer: Michael Bederman, Zak Kilberg, Allison Rose Carter, Ari Gold
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Bull, Ari Gold
Distributor: The Orchard
Production Co: Grack Films, The Orchard
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 25, 2018
Runtime: 1h 40m