Badlands – 35mm

Terrence Malick’s debut feature tells a tragic story, inspired by real events, that follows in the footsteps of the many American films about young outlaws. Kit and Holly feel trapped in their suburban lives, and only wish to escape into their dreams of adventures influenced by the American mass culture.  The realization of their dreams can, of course, only end in tragedy.

The films juxtaposition between the violent, tragic events on screen, and Holly’s narration—resembling a pulp romance novel filled with cliches—weaves a tragic, yet absurd, story which constantly pulls us between the romantic impulses of Kit and Holly, and the actual tragic events of the story.

The film also contains some of the most striking landscape photography, especially for a debut. The sparse, open landscapes stand in contrast, yet also in harmony, to the actions and aspirations of Kit and Holly.

Terrence Malick

USA

1973

35mm

94 min

English dialogue, Norwegian subtitles

Written by Olav Elias Riksheim