One of the little jewels in last year’s genre festival run, the folk-horror and mystery drama Nightsiren (2022), called Svetlonoc in the original Slovak language, is having a limited theatrical release in American cinemas. Set in a secluded mountain village, the film tells the story of two sisters who endure a tumultuous upbringing under the tyranny of their abusive mother.
One fateful day, a tragic accident occurs when the elder sister, Šarlota, flees into the surrounding woods, closely followed by her younger sister, Tamara. The blame for their disappearance falls upon Otyla, a Roma woman residing on the outskirts of the village. Accused of witchcraft, Otyla becomes a scapegoat for the sisters’ vanishing. Twenty years later, Šarlota unexpectedly returns to the village, stirring suspicion and unease among the locals. Determined to uncover the truth about her past, she begins delving into her history, prompting the villagers to grow increasingly distrustful. Amidst this atmosphere of suspicion, the only person willing to befriend Šarlota is Mira, a young and eccentric herbalist. As tensions rise within the community, a mysterious affliction befalls the village’s animals. Blaming Šarlota for conjuring the spirit of Otyla, the locals become convinced that she is responsible for the worsening situation. The film delves into themes of prejudice, superstition, and the consequences of collective fear, exploring the complexities of human nature and the long-lasting impact of past events.
This is the new movie from the Czech filmmaker Tereza Nvotová whose previous films, the political documentary Meciar (2017) and the drama Filthy (2017), have always been nominated for Best Film at the Czech Lions, the Czech Film and Television Academy Awards. She is also the co-writer of the film together with her frequent collaborator Barbora Namerova.
The main cast for the movie is formed by Natalia Germani, Eva Mores, Juliana Olhová, Iva Bittová, Jana Olhová, Marek Geisberg, Zuzana Konecná, and Noel Czuczor.
Nightsiren (2022) has had a successful festival run in 2022 being the winner of Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival, which was the film’s world premiere, and the Best Actress (Natalia Germani and Eva Mores) and the Méliès d’Argent for the Best Feature Length European Film at the Sitges Film Festival. It has also taken part in the MOTELX – Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, Cinematik Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, CinEast – Central and Eastern European Film Festival, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Film Festival Cottbus, Stockholm International Film Festival, Cork International Film Festival, Filmfestival Oostende, Fantasy Filmfest, Beijing International Film Festival, Crossing Europe Film Festival, and Octopus Film Festival.
Breaking Glass Pictures has the American distribution rights for the film and will release it in selected theaters on September 22, 2023. The movie is already available on digital platforms in several countries.
“We are honored to be part of bringing Nightsiren (2022) to audiences in North America. Tereza Nvotová‘s powerful direction, coupled with the exceptional writing of Barbora Namerova and Tereza Nvotová, has created a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film. Nightsiren (2022) tackles important themes of abuse, prejudice, and the search for identity, and it does so with remarkable storytelling and a talented cast. We believe this film will captivate audiences and ignite conversations on the complexities of human relationships and the resilience of the human spirit”, stated Rich Wolff, CEO of Breaking Glass Pictures.
Watch the official trailer for Nightsiren (2022).
