The Tree / Drevo

A debut feature by Sonja Prosenc (2014)

Slovenia, 90′, first feature, 2014, wp: Karlovy Vary
Slovenian OSCAR Entry 2016

The Tree on IMDB – link

Told from three points of view, this riveting family tragedy is the acclaimed feature debut from director Sonja Prosenc. A mother and her two sons live cloistered in their own home. But what is it about the outside world they fear? As each piece of the puzzle comes together, this gripping chamber drama moves towards its shattering climax with the inevitability of a Greek drama. Winner of awards at several international festivals, The Tree masterfully maintains an air of steadily mounting tension as its mystery unfolds. (Museum of the moving image New York)

“The Tree marks the arrival of a distinctively talented young filmmaker. Sonja Prosenc tells a stark, elemental story in startingly unconventional manner.”
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

 

What was said about The Tree

»Sonja Prosenc’s brave debut film will reward attentive audiences. … Indeed, this is a film of great emotional impact that describes a psychological state and an unbearable situation, rather than telling a story.« Cineuropa

“The Tree is an intriguing effort that marks the auspicious feature debut. It marks the arrival of a distinctively talented young filmmaker. Sonja Prosenc tells a stark, elemental story in startingly unconventional manner.” The Hollywood Reporter

»The Tree is one of a selection of very good films shown at Karlovy Vary in 2014 which promote a visual cinema above all. If this is a strong theme in current cinema, we should hope that they all communicate their mysteries so eloquently.« East European Film Bulletin

“Told from three points of view, a riveting family tragedy gradually reveals itself in this acclaimed Slovenian chamber drama, which masterfully maintains an air of steadily mounting tension.” Museum of the Moving Image New York

“You get three pieces, each of which doesn’t make much sense when separated from the rest. When put together, however, they create a visually remarkable picture which stays under the lids long after the screening.” Nisimazine

»Intimately shot and powerfully acted against a spare landscape in three main colours, this film will enter your mind and haunt you endlessly.« Jahan Bakshi, film critic

Awards and festivals

Slovenian OSCAR Entry 2016

Karlovy Vary IFF, July 2014: East of the West Competition, world premiere
Slovenian Film Festival 2014:
FIPRESCI Prize, FSF 2014
Best Actor Award, FSF 2014
Best Cinematography Award, FSF 2014
Best Music Award, FSF 2014
Film by the Sea, Netherlands 2014:
Youth Jury Award
MeCEEF – Medias Central European Film Festival 2016:
Best Cinematography Award
CinEast IFF 2014: nominated Grand Prix du Luxemboug
Ars Independent, Poland 2014: nominated Black Horse Award
Mumbai Film Festival, 2014: nominated Best Feature Film
Noordelijk FF, 2014: nominated Audience Award
Braunschweig International FF 2014: nominated Heinrich Award
Trieste International Film Festival 2015: nominated Trieste Prize
Sguardi Altrove Milano, 2015: nominated Best feature film
CPH PIX, Copenhagen 2015: nominated New Talent Grand Pix
Tripoli IFF 2015: nominated Best feature
Pula Film Festival 2015: nominated International Competition
Ifema, Malmö, Sweden 2016: nominated Best Feature
Filmfestival del Garda 2016: nominated Best Feature
LETS CEE Vienna 2014
Cairo International Film Festival, 2014
Black Nights Film Festival Tallin, 2014
Kerala IFF, 2014
Skena Up IFF, 2014
Pune IFF, 2015
International Film Festival of Thrissur 2015
Film Festival Nilambur, 2015
Byron Bay IFF, 2015
Panorama Europe Film Festival New York, 2015
Avvantura Film Festival 2015
K3 International Film festival Villach 2015
Alexandria Film Festival 2015
Silk Road IFF China 2015
Arras Film Festival France 2015
Leeds International Film Festival 2015
Neue Slowenisches Kino Berlin 2015
Vancouver European Union Film Festival 2015
American Film Institute, AFI Fest 2015
Istanbul Modern Cinema – Selection of Best Foreign Language Oscar Candidates Films 2016
19th Annual Chicago European Union Film Festival 2016
Balkan Florence Express Film Festival 2016
Festivalului filmului European Bucharest 2016
Festivalul Filmului European la Timişoara 2016
Festival de Cine al Este de Lima 2016
EU Film Days Japan 2016
Buenos Aires Days of Slovenian Film 2016
Semana Nacional de Cine, Uruguay 2016
St. Petersburg International Festival of Debut Films “Beginning”, 2016
All Lights Film Festival, Kochi, India, 2016
Eurocine Equador 2016
Slovenian Film Days, Szombathely 2017
Scanorama European Film Forum, Vilnius 2017
Festival de cine Al Este de Lima, 2018

Cast and Crew

cast Katarina Stegnar, Jernej Kogovšek, Lukas Matija Rosas Uršič, Saša Pavlin Stosić, Suad Fazli, Osmani Valdet
written by Sonja Prosenc, Mitja Ličen
cinematographer Mitja Ličen
editor Miloš Kalusek
music composer Janez Dovč
production designer Vasja Kokelj
costume designer Emil Cerar
sound designer Julij Zornik
producers Rok Sečen, Sandra Ržen, Sonja Prosenc
directed by Sonja Prosenc

produced by Monoo
co-produced by RTV Slovenija, NuFrame, Staragara

financed by Slovenian Film Center
developed in cooperation with EAVE and Baltic Event Tallinn

The Tree on IMDB – link