By Glenn Erickson
The Juniper Tree
Brief Synopsis
Themes of maternal love and loss resurface as two sisters flee their home after their mother is burned to death as a witch.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Nietzchka Keene
Director
Geirlaug Sunna Pormar
Valdimar Orn Flygenring
Bryndis Petra Bragadottir
Gudrún Gísladóttir
Ingunn Asdisardottir
Production Manager
Film Details
Also Known As
Juniper Tree
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Fantasy
Release Date
2002
Location
Iceland
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 20m
Synopsis
Themes of maternal love and loss resurface as two sisters flee their home after their mother is burned to death as a witch.
Director
Nietzchka Keene
Director
Crew
Ingunn Asdisardottir
Production Manager
Jacob Grimm
From Story
Wilhelm Grimm
From Story
Nietzchka Keene
Screenplay
Nietzchka Keene
Editor
Nietzchka Keene
Producer
Larry Lipkis
Music
Patrick Moyround
Sound
Patrick Moyround
Associate Producer
Dominique Polain
Art Director
Randolph Sellars
Director Of Photography
Film Details
Also Known As
Juniper Tree
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Fantasy
Release Date
2002
Location
Iceland
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 20m
Articles
The Juniper Tree -
Although filmed in exotic Iceland, 1990's The Juniper Tree is a personally financed independent production by the enterprising American Nietzchka Keene, a Fulbright scholar with a focus on Old Icelandic studies. In 1986, Keene found a willing collaborator in singer Björk, who was changing bands and had just had a baby. Adapted from the Grimm fairy tale of the same name, the medieval-set fantasy uses witchcraft and magic to tell a tale of murderous family relations in harsh times. Two sisters attach themselves to a widower after their own mother is burned as a witch. Katla (Bryndis Petra Bragadóttir) is the seducer, and the quiet Margit (Björk) experiences supernatural visions. Katla inherits a stepson, who she immediately decides is an enemy. The sisters follow instinct to subsist in the raw, isolated landscape. Margit surreal visions of her dead mother are images that could have come from a David Lynch movie. Writer-director Keene internalizes the fantastic content. Although there are no overt supernatural events, awareness of a spiritual world is very much a part of this semi-mythic reality. Margit finds herself in a state of wonder. Although not a literal adaptation, Nietzchka Keene's film retains the spirit of the original Grimm fairy tale's gruesome family dynamics. She had to wait four years for completion funds, but Björk's rising popularity insured that The Juniper Tree would find its audience. Although active in both scholarly work and film production, Keene made only one more feature film, finished and released several years after her early death from cancer at age 54. It too is a spiritual fantasy about a strong woman in peril.
By Glenn Erickson
By Glenn Erickson
The Juniper Tree -
Although filmed in exotic Iceland, 1990's The Juniper Tree is a personally financed independent production by the enterprising American Nietzchka Keene, a Fulbright scholar with a focus on Old Icelandic studies. In 1986, Keene found a willing collaborator in singer Björk, who was changing bands and had just had a baby. Adapted from the Grimm fairy tale of the same name, the medieval-set fantasy uses witchcraft and magic to tell a tale of murderous family relations in harsh times. Two sisters attach themselves to a widower after their own mother is burned as a witch. Katla (Bryndis Petra Bragadóttir) is the seducer, and the quiet Margit (Björk) experiences supernatural visions. Katla inherits a stepson, who she immediately decides is an enemy. The sisters follow instinct to subsist in the raw, isolated landscape. Margit surreal visions of her dead mother are images that could have come from a David Lynch movie. Writer-director Keene internalizes the fantastic content. Although there are no overt supernatural events, awareness of a spiritual world is very much a part of this semi-mythic reality. Margit finds herself in a state of wonder. Although not a literal adaptation, Nietzchka Keene's film retains the spirit of the original Grimm fairy tale's gruesome family dynamics. She had to wait four years for completion funds, but Björk's rising popularity insured that The Juniper Tree would find its audience. Although active in both scholarly work and film production, Keene made only one more feature film, finished and released several years after her early death from cancer at age 54. It too is a spiritual fantasy about a strong woman in peril.
By Glenn Erickson
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States on DVD May 29, 2002
Feature acting debut for Icelandic singer Bjork.
Feature directorial debut for Nietzchka Keene.
Shown at 1991 Montreal International Festival de Nouveau Cinema.
Shown at 1991 Santa Barbara Film Festival.
Shown at American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica February 28 - March 8, 1991.
Shown at Berlin Film Festival (International Forum) February 15-26, 1991.
Shown at Cannes Film Festival (market) May 9-20, 1991.
Shown at Sundance Film Festival Park City, Utah January 17-27, 1991.
b&w
dialogue English
Released in United States on DVD May 29, 2002
