Leaning Towards Solace - Floria Sigismondi for Sigur Ros

Icelandic group Sigur Ros gave a dozen filmmakers the same modest budget and commissioned them to each create a short film inspired by songs on their latest album Valtari. The idea behind the Valtari Mystery Film Experiment was to give the filmmakers complete creative freedom to present their own emotional interpretation. Floria Sigismondi created the final installment of the 16-part series with “Learning Towards Solace,” a moving visual counterpart set to Sigur Ros’ tracks “Dauðalogn” and “Varúð,” produced by Black Dog Films. Elle Fanning plays Sara, the pixie-like, pirouetting daughter of a self-doubting, hard-drinking father played by the great John Hawkes. Against the backdrop of a desolate, desert slum, we see their seemingly terminal relationship revealed in glimpses of heart wrenching beauty.

“The story is not only about sorrow, but about hope, love and the loss of fear, rebirth and reincarnation. The idea that we possibly have travelled through time with the same souls in different roles.”

Sigur Ros 'Leaning Towards Solace'
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Girl: Elle Fanning
Father: John Hawkes
Baby: Ever Rabineau
Producer: Coleen Haynes
Exec Producer: Jules Daly
DP: Starr Whitesides
Production Designer: David Wilson
Hair: Benjamin Mohapi
Stylist: Marjan Malakpour
Make Up: Erin Ayanian-Monroe