Sweet Love Triumphs Over All
by Flick Chick Vique
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I give Sweet Land 3 1/2 Red Vines for being a true labor of love |
The story behind the making of Sweet Land is a fairytale just as sweet as the movie itself. First time director/writer Ali Selim quietly pursued his passion for 15 years before the making of his treasure became a reality. But his struggle didn’t end there.
From Hamptons International Film Festival to the Sedona Film Festival and too many to name in between, Sweet Land has been quietly earning loud praise from across the country. Finally, the movie has made it’s way to Phoenix and what a sweet little morsel it is!
Sweet Land celebrates the immigrant experience with a love story set in 1920’s Minnesota farm country. Inge, Elizabeth Reaser, through an arranged marriage comes to marry a young Norwegian farmer, Olaf, Tim Guinee, but the two are forbidden to marry because she lacks official immigration papers. Through the course of events, the young couple face scorn and disapproval from their community. The story of their love and triumph are told from beginning to end through flashbacks.
Though many of the issues from that time period are relevant today, it is at the very core an old fashioned tale of love and romance. The kind that makes the heart weep with longing. That it is so beautifully told with stunning panoramic views and ‘golden hour’ cinematography just adds to the splendor. And while the visuals have critics making bold comparisons to Days of Heaven and Terrance Malick, I myself felt a kinship with Ingmar Berman’s films because of the way the movie embraced or better yet celebrated the art of silence.
As Inge, Elizabeth Reaser is delightfully spunky. Her command of German will astound you and I was totally blown away to find out she didn’t speak a lick before being cast! But while that might be the first thing that impresses you, it’s certainly not the least of her remarkable talents. She easily steals the movie in spite of being surrounded by wonderful actors in parts large and small. Her performance is Oscar worthy but more than that keep an eye out for this lady. She could very well be on the way to being the next gen’s Meryl Streep with her ability to immerse and completely dedicate herself to a role.
Matching Elizabeth with quiet intensity is Tim Guinee as her betrothed, Olaf. A man of few words and limited expression, one grows to understand and cheer for this simple farmer of complex character.
It would appear that Director Ali Selim lives his life by that time worn motto of all successful people who conquer the odds, “Never give up.” How fortunate for me that he didn’t. And how unfortunate for you if you don’t make every effort to see his dream come true, Sweet Land.
Did you see it?
Tell us what you thought of it!
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SWEET TALK WITH THE STARS
Getting to talk to the stars and their talented director doubled my good fortune. I found them all to be extremely personable and eager to share their passion for Sweet Land. Space does not permit me to divulge all that was said but here are some sweet highlights from our conversation. Enjoy!
FCV: Elizabeth, what came first? The language or the part?
Elizabeth: The part.
FCV: You're kidding! I thought for sure you were going to say you've been speaking German since a child.
Elizabeth: I wish! No. It was the scariest, craziest thing ever. There's nothing like fear to get your act in gear in terms of working really hard! Memorizing in a foreign language is an insane thing!
FCV: Tim, what was it like playing against a leading lady that's speaking a completely different language than you?
Tim: Don't we anyhow?! (Followed by great laughter in the room!)
Wow. I don't know. You know, a lot of it's liberating because you don't have to worry about words.
FCV: Ali, I understand why you didn't use subtitles but somewhere along the line has someone given you flack about that?
Ali: At festival Q&A's one person will raise their hand a little bit teed off and the entire audience would pounce on them, 'No, you don't want -!" But I think it's an emotional film... I don't think what she's saying is really as important as how she's saying it. And I think there are times when she's confused and other characters are confused and I think that it's good that the audience feel a little of that.
FCV: One last thing, was the pie good?
Elizabeth: Okay, that was the best pie! We went crazy on that pie! Even Ali tried to get in on it.
FCV: Did a local woman make it? (From the little town in Minnesota where the film was shot)
Ali: Yes. Fantastic. Really the best pie you'll ever have.
FCV: I can't tell you how much I wanted some pie after watching that scene. I was dying for some!
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