Exclusive Restoration Trailer for Northern Lights Revives Acclaimed Cannes Winner

      One of the most extraordinary findings I encountered at last year’s New York Film Festival was the Revivals selection Northern Lights. The 1978 drama by John Hanson and Rob Nilsson, which had been overlooked, is now presented in a stunning 4K restoration and highlights the struggles faced by immigrant farmers in Dakota. While it shares a release year and similar themes with Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven, Northern Lights offers an intriguing contrast by moving away from a vision of idyllic beauty to examine the more sobering realities of everyday life and the importance of collective action.

      Acquired by Kino Lorber, the 4K digital restoration crafted by IndieCollect and Metropolis Post, in collaboration with directors John Hanson and Rob Nilsson, will begin screening on May 23 at NYC’s Film at Lincoln Center, with the directors present. In anticipation of the release, we are excited to exclusively unveil the trailer and poster for the film, which won the Camera d’Or for Best First Feature at Cannes in 1979.

      Here’s the synopsis: “Recipient of the Camera d’Or at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival, the unique Northern Lights stands out as one of the most heartfelt and politically charged works of cinema from the late 1970s. Depicting the establishment of the populist Nonpartisan League in North Dakota during the mid-1910s, Northern Lights portrays the struggles of immigrant farmers battling the powerful forces of industry and finance. Amid this surge of class conflict, two young lovers are caught in the unfolding events. Filmed on location (in grain-rich black-and-white 16mm) during the harsh winter and featuring an impressive cast of non-professional actors, this handcrafted masterpiece is a profound tribute to solidarity.”

      Watch the exclusive trailer and view the poster below.