The Song of Sway Lake

Play trailer

2:07

The Song of Sway Lake

R

Released Sep 21, 2018

1h 40m

Romance

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Kristen Yoonsoo Kim

Houston Press

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.

Oct 17, 2018

Full Review

Adam Graham

Detroit News

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

Rated: C-

Sep 21, 2018

Full Review

Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

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.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 21, 2018

Full Review

Dominic Griffin

Spectrum Culture

At least it looks pretty.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 17, 2019

Full Review

Jordi Costa

El Pais (Spain)

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

Jun 7, 2019

Full Review

Robert W. Monk

Flickering Myth

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

Rated: 2/5

Feb 21, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ari Gold

Director

Rory Culkin

Ollie

Robert Sheehan

Nikolai

Isabelle McNally

Isadora

Mary Beth Peil

Charlie Sway

Elizabeth Peña

Marlena

View more videos

The Only Living Boy in New York

33%

60%

The Only Living Boy in New York

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Only Living Boy in New York

A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.

86%

45%

A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.

If Beale Street Could Talk

95%

68%

If Beale Street Could Talk

Watchlist

TRAILER

for If Beale Street Could Talk

Blind

19%

46%

Blind

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Blind

Phantom Thread

91%

71%

Phantom Thread

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Phantom Thread

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The House with a Clock in Its Walls Ticks Along Tolerably

The Song of Sway Lake: Trailer 1

2:07

View more videos

View more photos

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