-Written by Kyle Bain.
A family attempts to live off the grid, growing their own food and providing for themselves to the best of their ability. When tragedy hits, the family is forced to rejoin society and deal with some new, unfamiliar norms. A New Kind of Wilderness explores family in a way that I’ve never seen before, and the art of the documentary, too, is explored in a way that should inspire a movement.
A New Kind of Wilderness, a documentary about a family, one I’ve never met, one I’ve never heard of, plays out cinematically, beautifully–like a narrative. I was drawn into it, and as I write this very line I’m watching the final twenty minutes of it–and I’m close to tears. This film is incredible, the reason I love film. If you keep up with my reviews, then you know how my feeling toward documentaries has shifted negatively–but A New Kind of Wilderness has reeled me back in, reminded me that not all documentaries are the same, that there’s hope for this beautiful artform. If you watch A New Kind of Wilderness and don’t have a visceral reaction, then shame on you. This film is brilliant, nearly perfect–just writing the words, thinking of this film, makes me sad, makes me feel something so powerful.
Documentaries are steeped in realism, and very rarely do you stumble across a documentary that isn’t–but A New Kind of Wilderness explores it in a different way. Rather than just providing us facts, expressing to us why something needs to happen, change, or something else entirely, A New Kind of Wilderness allows viewers to figure everything out on their own. Through a blend of English and Norwegian (a very fluid and romantic language), the family present in this film tells their story to the best of their ability. They don’t always say it outright, but they are always attempting to let viewers know that it’s important to hold your loved ones close, to cherish the time that you have here with them.
The individuals that present this to viewers most effectively are Freja and Ronja, sisters with an interesting history. As they explain to the world their unique dynamic it becomes clear the connection that they have, and that, even through struggle, they have one another’s backs. They are clearly emotional individuals, almost incapable of hiding their feelings at any given moment, and it’s often these two that allowed A New Kind of Wilderness to become so emotionally heavy.
A New Kind of Wilderness is a new kind of documentary, one that explores this family in question through a very narrative-esque presentation. We get a complete, cohesive story, one that seems to take place over the course of four or five years. I could feel my heart racing as the intensity grew, becoming more prominent throughout and reeling me in even further than before. A New Kind of Wilderness is one of the best documentaries that I’ve seen in years, and I’m incredibly impressed with what Writer-Director Silje Evensmo Jacobsen brings to the table.
Written & Directed by Silje Evensmo Jacobsen.
Starring Ulv, Falk, Freja, Ronja Maria, Maria Gros Vatne, & Nikolaus Ithell Payne.
9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW
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