The Juniper Tree
Movie · Fantasy · Drama

Set in medieval Iceland, The Juniper Tree follows Margit (Björk in a riveting performance) 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 that’s soon strained by Katla’s burgeoning sorcery. Photographed entirely on location in the stunning landscapes of Iceland in spectacular black-and-white by Randy Sellars, The Juniper Tree is a deeply atmospheric film, evocative of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s Day of Wrath and Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring, and filled with indelible waking dream sequences (courtesy of legendary experimental filmmaker Pat O’Neill). A potent allegory for misogyny and its attendant tragedies, is a major rediscovery for art house audiences. New restoration by the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research and The Film Foundation, with funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation.

1990 · 1h 20m
  • 100%
Starring Björk, Bryndis Petra Bragadottir, Valdimar Orn Flygenring
Director Nietzchka Keene

Trailers

  • The Juniper Tree
    Fantasy

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Björk
    Margit
  • B‌P
    Bryndis Petra Bragadottir
    Katla
  • V‌O
    Valdimar Orn Flygenring
    Jóhann
  • G‌G
    Guðrún Gísladóttir
    Mother
  • G‌S
    Geirlaug Sunna Pormar
    Jónas
  • N‌K
    Nietzchka Keene
    Director
  • N‌K
    Nietzchka Keene
    Producer
  • P‌M
    Patrick Moyroud
    Producer
  • L‌L
    Larry Lipkis
    Music

About

The Juniper Tree

Fantasy

Set in medieval Iceland, The Juniper Tree follows Margit (Björk in a riveting performance) 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 that’s soon strained by Katla’s burgeoning sorcery. Photographed entirely on location in the stunning landscapes of Iceland in spectacular black-and-white by Randy Sellars, The Juniper Tree is a deeply atmospheric film, evocative of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s Day of Wrath and Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring, and filled with indelible waking dream sequences (courtesy of legendary experimental filmmaker Pat O’Neill). A potent allegory for misogyny and its attendant tragedies, is a major rediscovery for art house audiences. New restoration by the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research and The Film Foundation, with funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation.

100%

TOMATOMETER
Average 7.7
Reviews 22
Fresh 22

Information

Studio
Grasshopper Film / Arbelos Films
Released
1990
Run Time
1 hr 20 min
Rated
Unrated
Region of Origin
Iceland
© 1986 Patrick Mayroud

Languages

Original Audio
English, English (United Kingdom), Icelandic, Icelandic (Iceland)
Audio

English (United States) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United States) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
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