Norway’s official Oscar candidate brings Knut Hamsun’s Nobel Prize-winning epic to the big screen. Hans Petter Moland’s new adaptation of Growth of the Soil is a grounded, raw, and strikingly beautiful story about humanity’s place in nature, love, and survival.

Set against a grand, unvarnished Western Norwegian landscape, settler couple Isak (Herbert Nordrum) and Inger (Asta Kamma August) struggle to forge a life out of nothing. The film delivers a visually restrained and tactile drama that dwells on the details, anchored by outstanding performances and a sparse, intense presence.

The story follows Isak (Herbert Nordrum), who clears land in the wilderness, and Inger (Asta Kamma August), who crosses the mountain to seek refuge with him. Together, they build the Sellanraa farm from scratch. But as civilization and the forces of nature close in, their bond is tested by dark secrets and unforgiving choices.

Knut Hamsun’s critique of civilization and depictions of nature have received a brand-new cinematic translation. Hans Petter Moland and co-screenwriter Gard B. Eidsvold strip away unnecessary dialogue, letting the camera dwell instead on the physical toil, silent glances, and the power of the elements.

Through a tight, analogue aesthetic, the film depicts the fight for existence on the isolated Sellanraa. The result is an intense and visually overwhelming cinematic experience exploring shame, perseverance, and unity—proving that the story remains just as vital and timeless today.

Avoiding sentimentality, the film favours a stark, visual, and physical experience. The cinematography allows raw nature to act as a character in its own right, while Nordrum and August deliver two of the strongest performances on Norwegian screens this year. The film had its world premiere in Toronto, recently picked up awards at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and opened BIFF to glowing reviews..