(EUFF) Film Review #67: TALE OF THE SLEEPING GIANTS [Screened on 27 May 2023]
European Film Festival 2023
Film Review #67 [Finland]: Tale of The Sleeping Giants
*This film review may contain plot spoilers, reader discretion is advised.*
Nature is brimming with drama, tales, and wonder - if we pay attention. In Röhr’s
Tale of the Sleeping Giants,
we are witness to it all. Based on Antti Tuuri’s vision of the Fells (ancient mountains of Lapland) as sleeping giants, we explore the rich wilderness through different seasons, terrains, and mythology. It follows ancient myths of the billion-year old mountains to close-ups with rare Arctic creatures, transporting the audience with its soundtrack and cinematography.
The cinematography, in particular, is one of the best things about nature documentaries. I am always in awe of how they capture nature’s unpredictable moments, even in the furthest parts of this planet. An entire sequence between a hawk and a shrew played out on the big screen (we even follow the shrew into their tiny tunnel), and I was at the edge of my seat. Röhr manages to transport the audience into the wilderness through this documentary by letting scenes play out on screen with little narration, allowing us to situate ourselves in the majestic landscapes. It works - my favourite shot was a time-lapse of the snow giants, frozen in time, the changing shadows of night telling a story of intrigue, mystery, and wonder.
All it needs is a good soundtrack to match. There are long sequences with no narration, but only a soundtrack to tell the story. The music dictates the playfulness of a raven and a fox, or the scale of reindeer migration. One moment it’s grand, the next it’s the howling of the wind, or just quiet. I am used to more narration to tell me facts or names of different animals typical of most documentaries, but I think I see the benefit in just experiencing nature. I am won over.
This is a documentary to be immersed in, to travel to the furthest corners of the earth and to revere the beauty of nature.
About the Author: When not reading letterboxd’ reviews or watching fan-made videos, Elisabeth talks about movies and tv shows on her podcast Critical Cliches.
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This review was written as part of a series of reviews by SFS writers for European Film Festival 2023.
For more films and info on EUFF 2023, visit the official website:
https://www.euff.com.sg/
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About European Film Festival 2023:
The European Film Festival (EUFF) is an annual event that showcases a curated selection of European films. The films showcased in this festival may belong to a specific country, but they are all representative of Europe’s shared cultural heritage. EUFF is a window into the intriguing world of European cinema and also offers a platform to young Singaporean film-makers.
For more about
Tale of The Sleeping Giants:
https://www.euff.com.sg/film/finland/tale-of-the-sleeping-giants
About the Movie:
GENRE: Documentary
DIRECTOR: Marko Röhr
PG | 2021 | Finnish w/English subtitles| 77 minutes | Preceded by Cricket
SYNOPSIS
Tale of the Sleeping Giants is a mythical story about the ancient roots of the mountains in Lapland, which are believed to be sleeping giants. This documentary features stunning nature photography and focuses on various animals such as wolverines, reindeer and bears, each with their own unique beliefs and tales related to Lapland’s eight different seasons. The story spans billions of years and showcases the mountains’ witness to the dawn of life on Earth and mankind’s history. Tale of the Sleeping Giants was filmed over a period of three years entirely in Lapland in the most magical wilderness.
HONOURS
IMFCA AWARD 2021 BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A DOCUMENTARY SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AWARD 2022
This review was written as part of a series of reviews by SFS writers for European Film Festival 2023.
For more films and info on EUFF 2023, visit the official website:
https://www.euff.com.sg/
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