An unexpectedly riveting drama, based on a Brothers Grimm fairytale, 1990's The Juniper Tree is about two sisters who escape their homeland after their mother is burned to death for being a witch. The older sister, Katla (Bryndís Petra Bragadóttir), marries a widowed farmer whose young son resents her presence and undermines her standing with accusations of witchcraft. Meanwhile, Margit (Björk, in her feature film debut here), an adolescent, explores the ruggedly beautiful, Icelandic mountains, and follows the apparition of a woman who walks serenely through meadows and dispenses maternal wisdom. Shot in rich black-and-white tones that amplify the spirit of this stark land, this is an unsettling and poetic myth, a violent inferno cloaked in Arctic silence. DVD extras include an interview with writer-director Nietzchka Keene, deleted scenes, and publicity photos. Recommended. (T. Keogh)
The Juniper Tree
Rhino, 78 min., not rated, DVD: $19.95 Volume 17, Issue 4
The Juniper Tree
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