Erik Ljunggren HARPA nominated 2022 for his score for Itonje Søimer Guttormsen's Gritt
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Nomination text:
Gritt is the first feature film of director Itonje Søimer Guttormsen. The movie unfolds in a seemingly rhapsodic, improvised, even whimsical manner as its main character searches for a deeper meaning and truth in art and life. The original score is a mix of electronic, acoustic and electroacoustic elements, often with singer Anneli Drecker producing vocal sounds reminiscent of diverse ethnic music (Inuit, Sami, Tuvan). In the first part of the movie, the score consists of small, usually ambivalent and unsettling cues, competing with incorporated classical music (by Grieg, Bach and Purcell). As the story, and Gritt herself, move in a more focused, although quite mystical direction, the music of Erik Ljunggren becomes gradually more prevalent. The last part contains some quite complex and impressive montages of image and sound, with great beauty and poetry. Ljunggren’s score plays an important role in this film, for coherence, direction and overall tone, and for weaving together the layers of the drama. Despite the apparent whimsiness from the outset, this turns out to be a very determined work of art, with an impressive and fascinating, integrated soundscape. Gritt exhibits a thoughtful and confident collaboration between director and composer/sound designer Erik Ljunggren, who has produced a highly original score for this very unique film. |