By turns astounding and cheap, sometimes in the same breath, Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America is a great example of personal, low-budget film making going the extra mile and really making something of itself. Through generally well chosen shots and details, the film sucks the viewer in despite a lack of rollicking action by presenting something we haven’t all seen before. And suddenly all those other North American Conquest by the Vikings movies that were made on a shoestring don’t seem so great anymore.
After a skirmish with Skraelings that leaves all of their brothers either dead or in retreat, two Vikings – Orn (writer/director Tony Stone) and Volnard (Fiore Tedesco) wander through the New World circa 1007, trying to find a way to safety. The opening half hour or so is dedicated simply to these men surviving in this new wilderness. There is little in the way of dialogue, though what is here is sprinkled with anachronisms (“This fish is killer.”) Mostly the men chop down trees to set up their camp, chase off wolves, take a full, uncut dump in the woods (Never let it be said that Stone did not commit to his role). Each scene is unrushed, set to either a slow, sad piano dirge or pounding black metal – another anachronism that works.
As the story moves on, Volnard finds himself thinking on matters spiritual while Orn, who disdains the spiritual, turns inward, thinking on himself. Neither journey is an easy one, nor does either journey present much of a plot thread. Being that both are such human experiences, though, the movie holds together, every second threatening to spin away into some abstract fantasy tale.
But it never does because Stone and co. have pulled off an amazing feat simply by staying true to what they’ve got, which seems to be nothing outside of some nice costumes. It’s not so much that Severed Ways confines itself so much as it never attempts to be something it’s not. There aren’t epic off screen battles save the one that occurs before the opening scene. There are no grand stunts. And even the story arc that a studio would demand is wholly absent. Stone has a handful of actors, some woods, some costumes, and a couple cameras from which he squeezes every ounce of magic available.
Shot on digital video, the landscapes and close-ups are pulled off beautifully, providing a convincingly epic backdrop for what is mostly a very small movie. The DVD art suggests a National Geographic documentary, and that is essentially what you get. This is an 11th century Nordic slice of life (except for the bits like Stone headbanging on a tree stump). This cannot be overstated – there is an amount of restraint one must have to go into the woods with three or four buddies and turn out something so unselfconscious.
Still, a scene or two does get through that feels like it came from a Renaissance Fair and rips the viewer right out of the experience. Once Stone has traded the shores of Newfoundland for the woods of Vermont, the majestic feel of the setting and the story in general abates. What were once nuanced Viking uniforms suddenly seem like silly costumes. Were there not a impending and most likely brutal reunion of Orn and Volnard at this point, this may well have derailed the whole production.
However, there is no such derailing. Stone has cut his own path with this one. It really is something to see.
The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic, though the source material is over saturated digital video, creating a a docu-realistic look. The audio is in Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0, both in “Old Norse”, with English and Spanish subtitles. The occasional black metal riff will punch you in the gut.
Severed Scenes – Two deleted scenes from the movie that, besides being well shot, don’t reveal much. (5:55)
Scenic Ambience – Four short ambient videos – Water (2:47), Fire (2:57), Earth (2:32), and Wind (1:32) – to play in the background of your next Viking party.
Slow Burn – Footage of the chapel burning in slo-mo. (6:13)
Back Home: L’anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland – Scenic shots in Newfoundland. Not the best quality video, but still very eas on the eyes. (2:43)
Severed Ways Trailers – The Ax Trailer (1:33) and The Rock Trailer (2:26) promos for the film.
If you’re looking for a movie that moves to it’s own beat, something you’ve truly never seen before, Severed Ways fits the bill.
Magnolia Home Entertainment presents Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America. Directed by: Tony Stone. Starring: Fiore Tedesco, Tony Stone, David Perry, Gaby Hoffmann, Noelle Bailey, James Fuentes. Written by: Tony Stone. Running time: 109min. Rating: NR. Released on DVD: July 28, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
