Growth of the Soil

2 hr. 35 min. | Drama | Pegi 13

Norway in the early twentieth century. A loner named Isak has nothing but the determination to build a life for himself. High among the trees, he discovers a patch of barren land that, although it exhausts him, also gives him hope. He is joined by Inger, a quiet and strong companion who later becomes his wife. Together, they work the land and raise their children. Despite their constant struggle with the harsh yet breathtakingly beautiful wilderness, their lives are clear and simple. But as time passes, the modernizing world and historical changes begin to knock on the door of their secluded existence, while the hardships of everyday life and human weaknesses begin to transform their shared life. Adapted from Knut Hamsun’s 1917 novel, which helped earn him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920, the film, brought to life through the craftsmanship of director Hans Petter Moland and an outstanding cast, becomes a universal and timely story about the bond between humanity and nature, the weight of dramatic experience, and the inner strength of the human spirit. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Growth of the Soil is Norway’s Oscar submission.

Languages: Norwegian
Subtitles: Lithuanian, English
Original title: Markens Grøde
Produced: 2026: Norway

Growth of the Soil

Screenings

Thursday, 5 November