New Arrival The Juniper Tree (Region B)

Bjrk stars in Nietzchka Keenes stark, stunning debut featureThe Juniper Tree,loosely based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale

An unsung talent in her lifetime, director, professor and Fulbright scholarNietzchka Keenesstark, stunning debut featureThe Juniper Treeisloosely based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the same name, and starsBjrkin her first feature film performance.

Set in medieval Iceland,The Juniper Treefollows Margit (Bjrk) and her older sister Katla (Bryndis Petra Bragadottir) as they flee for safety after their mother is burned to death for witchcraft. Finding shelter and protection with Johan (Valdimar Orn Flygenring.), and his resentful young son, Jonas (Geirlaug Sunna Thormar), the sisters help form an impromptu family unit thats soon strained byKatlas burgeoning sorcery.

Photographed entirely on location in the stunning landscapes of Iceland in spectacular black-and-white by Randy Sellars,The Juniper Treeis a deeply atmospheric film, evocative of Carl Theodor DreyersDay of Wrathand Ingmar BergmansThe Virgin Spring, and filled with indelible waking dream sequences (courtesy of legendary experimental filmmaker Pat ONeill). A potent allegory for misogyny and its attendant tragedies,The Juniper Treeis a major rediscovery for art house audiences.

Extras

• Restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
• New feature commentary by Icelandic cultural scholar Dr Gurn D Whitehead
• Still(1978, 4 mins),Hinterland(1981, 25 mins),Aves(1998, 7 mins): three remastered short films by Nietzchka Keene
• Video interview with cinematographer Randy Sellars (2019, 29 mins)
• Archival video interview with Nietzchka Keene (2002, 15 mins)
• Outtakes fromThe Juniper Tree(5 mins)
• The Witchs Fiddle(1924, 7 mins): a British folk rarity from the BFI National Archive
• Iceland The Land of Ice and Fire(1929, 22 mins): little-seen footage of Iceland from the silent cinema era
• US theatrical trailer
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet featuring new essays by Dr Deborah Allison and Paul Fairclough and previously published writing by Angeline Gragasin, Patrick Moyroud and Amy Sloper