Sonja: The White Swan Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.0

Sonja: The White Swan Blu-ray Movie Review

A wonderful ode to dreamers.

Sonja the White Swan is a compelling biographical drama about an athlete who became a worldwide sensation in competitive figure skating. Produced by Cornelia Boysen (The Crossing, Harajuku) and Synnove Horsdal (The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King, State of Happiness), Sonja the White Swan is a must-see film with plenty to offer audiences. Ine Marie Wilmann stars in the leading role and delves in to the part with dedication.

Sonja Henie (Ine Marie Wilmann) is one of the world's greatest athletes. Having helped to develop figure skating in to the sport it is recognized as being in modern times, Sonja was a breakout star (becoming a Hollywood celebrity within the blink of an eye). Delivering a box-office hit in 1937, Academy Award nominated Thin Ice, Sonja would become one of the world's wealthiest women (adored by fans worldwide). Sonja the White Swan explores her remarkable career and the epic adventures she went on as a renowned figure-skater.

Ine Marie Wilmann steals the show. Wilmann is a consistent delight throughout Sonja the White Swan. Exploring the characters dimensions, Wilmann brought her A-game to the performance and made the film all the more entertaining because of her performance. The role was perfect for her. The actress finds the right tone for the film and excels at showcasing the personal and professional life Sonja experienced in real-life.

The production is well mounted throughout. The production design by Lina Nordqvist (Call Girl, The Wave) gives Sonja the White Swan a sense of wonderment that is maintained throughout the dazzling skating sequences. The art direction by Adrian Curelea (The Nun, The Zero Theorem) and Marina Pozanco (Biutiful, The Gunman) is beautiful and complex. This is a visually stunning production.

The costumes by Lena Mossum (Orange Honey, Wild Oats) and Lorna Marie Mugan (Shadow Dancer, Peaky Blinders) are one of my favorite elements of Sonja the White Swan. The gowns worn by Ine Marie Wilmann are glamorous and iconic. The designs call to mind classic Hollywood films. An outstanding effort by Mossum.

Magic takes flight.

The cinematography by Daniel Voldheim (The Driftless Area, I Am Easy to Find) provides Sonja the White Swan with abundant charm. The filmmaking has a serene cinematographic style that is quite striking and bold. The visuals match the storytelling well and provide a stunning backdrop to the filmmaking.

The music score composed by Ray Harman (Patrick's Day, Timbuktu) and Stein Berge Svendsen (An Affair, Heirs of the Night) is a nice component of the production. The music added a lot to the film: both the score and the song selections. The music is front- and-center during all of the skating and everything becomes more involving as a result.

Edited by Christoffer Heie (The Accidental Rockstar, Switch) and Martin Stoltz (What Happened to Monday, Kon- Tiki), Sonja the White Swan capably showcases the figure skating sequences and the more intimate scenes. The editing was great and never seemed to hit a lull. The pacing is terrific.

Written by Mette M. Bolstad (The Last Joint Venture, King of Devil's Island) and Andreas Markusson (Nr. 13, Mars & Venus), Sonja the White Swan is a compelling screenplay. The storytelling is quite entertaining. The film never loses steam. The writers managed to explore Sonja with a sense of wonderment that was unique.

Anne Sewitsky (Homesick, Totally True Love) beautifully directs Sonja the White Swan. The film is exceptional on so many levels. Sewitsky is a clear master of her craft and she hones in on what is compelling about Sonja Henie. Helping to bring forth the stunning performance of Ine Marie Wilmann, Sewitsky delivered a home run with this delightful gem. A must-see.

Sonja: The White Swan Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Sonja the White Swan is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in a 2.35:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio. The film has a stunning presentation. The transfer looks sharp, crisp, and dynamic. Colors look radiant and have considerable "pop" throughout. The cinematography simply stuns and the figure skating sequences are well encoded and never struggle to present the athletics. There are no major issues regarding compression and the image looks consistently pleasing.

Sonja: The White Swan Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two lossless audio options: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo. Sonja the White Swan is presented in the original Norwegian language (with English subtitles). The audio quality on the presentation is superb. Vocals are crisp, clear, and well-defined throughout.

The surround sound presentation is a true joy to listen to from start to finish: the surrounds are actively engaged throughout the entire film. Unlike some biographical dramas, Sonja the White Swan manages to have a highly engaging surround stage that was a well-designed experience. The audio swells with energy and vitality during the figure skating sequences and helps the filmmaking take flight. The music soundtrack is also well mixed (and plays a big role in the surround staging). An exceptional lossless audio presentation.

The English subtitles provided on the release are also impressive. The subtitles are free from any glaring spelling or grammatical errors. Optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing) are also provided.

Sonja: The White Swan Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sonja the White Swan Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:05)

Sonja: The White Swan Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sonja the White Swan is a great biographical drama featuring an exceptional performance by Ine Marie Wilmann as figure skating pioneer Sonja Henie. The production is well mounted and has superb direction by Anne Sewitsky (Homesick). A worthwhile gem with plenty to offer audiences. Highly recommended.