About the Movie
"Milk Teeth" (original German title: "Zahn um Zahn") is a 2024 Swiss-German drama film directed by Sophia Bösch, marking her feature film debut. The movie, with a runtime of 97 minutes, is an adaptation of Helene Bukowski's novel released in 2021. It premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2024 and was released in Germany on November 21, 2024.
Plot Summary
"Milk Teeth" is set in a small, isolated rural community, seemingly far removed from the rest of the world. The story centers on Skalde, a young woman who is considered an outsider within her own community due to her "outsider" mother. This heritage has marked her with a social stigma that is difficult to overcome. Despite this, Skalde has earned the respect of the village elder by demonstrating loyalty to the community's strict codes. However, her carefully maintained standing is jeopardized when she encounters a mysterious young girl, Meisis, in the local woods. Skalde risks everything by befriending Meisis and eventually taking her in. She attempts to conceal her actions to maintain her position within the village, but her secret plans begin to unravel, threatening her place in the community.
Director's Vision
Sophia Bösch's vision for "Milk Teeth" is to explore themes of tolerance, sisterhood, maternity, societal hierarchy, and individual responsibility within a dystopian fairytale setting. She aims to depict a world that is both dreamlike and realistic, where ancient superstitions clash with contemporary elements creating a tense and engaging atmosphere. Bösch focuses on the internal struggles of her protagonist, Skalde, as she navigates societal pressures and her own moral compass. The director uses the film to comment on the fear of the "other" and the importance of individual action against collective paranoia.
Themes
Alienation and Isolation: Skalde's heritage as the daughter of an outsider mother marks her as different, leading to a constant struggle for acceptance within her community. The film explores the emotional toll of being ostracized and the desire to belong.
Fear of the Other: The community's reaction to Meisis embodies a deep-seated fear of the unknown and those who are different. This fear drives their superstition and prejudice, leading to irrational and harmful actions.
Sisterhood and Maternity: The bond that develops between Skalde and Meisis, and Skalde's relationship with her own mother, Edith, are central to the film. It emphasizes chosen family and the powerful connections women forge in the face of adversity.
Societal Hierarchy and Conformity: The film critiques rigid social structures and the pressure to conform to community codes, even when those codes are based on fear and superstition. Skalde's journey is about challenging these hierarchies and choosing individual conscience over blind obedience.
Individual Responsibility: Skalde's decision to protect Meisis highlights the importance of individual moral choices in the face of collective hysteria. The film encourages viewers to consider their responsibility to stand up for what is right, even when it means defying social norms.
Breaking Free from Patriarchy: Some interpretations suggest the film offers a "fairy tale-like vision of the end of patriarchy," emphasizing the power of ancient, instinctive knowledge often associated with women.
Key Success Factors
Atmospheric World-Building: The film creates an immersive and eerie atmosphere through its setting in a lush, yet unsettling forest, effectively contrasting contemporary elements with ancient mysticism.
Strong Performances: Mathilde Bundschuh as Skalde and Susanne Wolff as Edith deliver compelling performances, bringing depth and nuance to their characters' complex relationships. Viola Hinz is also noted for her convincing portrayal of the mysterious Meisis.
Intriguing Premise: The post-apocalyptic fairy tale premise, blending werewolf mythology with social commentary, offers a unique and engaging narrative.
Relevant Themes: The film's exploration of timely themes like fear of outsiders, community paranoia, and individual responsibility resonates with contemporary audiences.
Sophia Bösch's Direction: Bösch's confident directorial debut showcases her ability to create a visually striking and thematically rich film, effectively adapting Bukowski's novel.
Short Summary
In a dystopian future, Skalde, living in a small rural community, defies her village's fear and superstition by protecting a mysterious young girl, forcing her to choose between belonging and her conscience.
Awards and Nominations
Solothurn Film Festival 2025: Nominated for "Visioni" Award.
Critics Reception
Critics' reception of "Milk Teeth" has been generally positive, highlighting its atmospheric direction, strong performances, and thought-provoking themes.
Screen Anarchy: Points out the film as a "post-apocalyptic fairy tale" and praises Sophia Bösch's direction, noting her ability to make points about tolerance, sisterhood, and individual responsibility effectively. The review emphasizes the film's beautiful cinematography and unique setting of a "post-apocalyptic normal looking European forest."
International Cinephile Society: Acknowledges the familiarity of the "paranoia towards outsiders in a dystopian world" trope but commends the "good world-building and a strong cast" that keep the film engaging. It praises the performances of Mathilde Bundschuh and Susanne Wolff and highlights the cinematography and sound design. However, it notes the story's predictability and a somewhat weak final confrontation.
Cineuropa: Highlights the film's exploration of "sisterhood and family bonds" and its "dreamlike and dystopic-flavoured universe." It emphasizes the film's focus on characters fighting for survival and the themes of individuality within a restrictive society.
IMDb: User reviews on IMDb are mixed, with some praising the film's atmosphere and performances, while others find the plot slow or confusing. The average rating is around 6/10.
Overall Summary of Critics Reception: Critics generally appreciate the film's atmosphere, visual style, and performances, particularly those of the lead actresses. The film is recognized for tackling relevant themes within a unique dystopian setting. Some critics, however, point out the predictability of the plot and a somewhat anticlimactic ending.
Reviews About Movie Online
IMDb: As mentioned above, IMDb user reviews are mixed, with ratings averaging around 6/10. Some users praise the film's unique atmosphere and strong performances, while others find the story slow-paced or unclear. Some reviews highlight the film's exploration of social themes and its artful direction.
Letterboxd: On Letterboxd, reviews are also varied, reflecting a range of opinions. Some viewers appreciate the film's artistic approach and thematic depth, while others find it less impactful. Discussions often revolve around the film's pacing and narrative clarity. (Note: A direct link to Letterboxd reviews for "Milk Teeth" is not available from the search results, but Letterboxd is a common platform for online film reviews).
Production
"Milk Teeth" is a Swiss-German co-production. Production companies include Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG (Switzerland) and Weydemann Bros. (Germany). The film is adapted from Helene Bukowski's 2021 novel of the same name. Filming took place in atmospheric forest locations, contributing significantly to the film's eerie and immersive quality. Camera equipment was provided by Vantage Film.
Distribution Companies
Farbfilm-Verleih (Germany - Theatrical Distribution in 2024)
Angel Films (Denmark - All Media Distribution in 2025)
Release Dates
Theatrical Release: Germany, November 21, 2024. Limited theatrical releases in other regions may follow.
Streaming Release: Streaming release information is not yet available. Details are expected to be announced later in 2024 or 2025.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13868580/
Link Review: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/455714/
About movie: https://milk-teeth.levelk.dk/
Link to watch: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Sophia-B%C3%B6sch/dp/B0DP7TF1YR/ (Germany)
Why to Recommend This Movie
Unique Dystopian Setting: Offers a fresh take on the dystopian genre by setting it in a European forest and blending it with folklore elements.
Thought-Provoking Themes: Explores relevant social and psychological themes such as fear of the other, community vs. individual, and the strength of female bonds.
Atmospheric and Visually Striking: Features beautiful cinematography and sound design that create an immersive and unsettling viewing experience.
Strong Performances: Showcases compelling performances from the lead actresses, particularly Mathilde Bundschuh and Susanne Wolff.
Debut of a Promising Director: Introduces Sophia Bösch as a talented new director with a distinctive visual style and thematic focus.
Why You Should Watch Movie
For fans of atmospheric and character-driven dramas.
If you enjoy dystopian or post-apocalyptic settings with a unique twist.
If you are interested in films that explore themes of social isolation, prejudice, and female solidarity.
To experience Sophia Bösch's debut feature and witness her directorial talent.
For compelling performances from a strong cast, especially Mathilde Bundschuh.
Movie Trend
Elevated or Arthouse Horror: "Milk Teeth" aligns with the "elevated horror" or "arthouse horror" trend. This trend moves away from jump scares and gore, focusing instead on psychological tension, atmosphere, and deeper thematic content. These films often blend horror elements with social commentary and character-driven narratives, as seen in movies like "The Witch," "Hereditary," and "Midsommar." "Milk Teeth" shares this trend by using its dystopian setting and folkloric elements to explore complex social and emotional themes rather than relying on traditional horror tropes.
Big Social Trend
Fear of the Other/Xenophobia: The film taps into the significant social trend of "fear of the other" or xenophobia. In a world increasingly marked by division and societal anxieties, the film's portrayal of a community gripped by paranoia and suspicion towards outsiders resonates strongly. This trend reflects real-world concerns about rising nationalism, immigration debates, and the fear-driven polarization of societies. "Milk Teeth" uses its fictional setting to explore the damaging consequences of this social trend on both individual lives and community well-being.
Final Verdict
"Milk Teeth" is a compelling and atmospheric debut from Sophia Bösch, offering a thought-provoking dystopian tale with strong performances and relevant social commentary. While some may find the pacing deliberate or the narrative somewhat predictable, the film's strengths lie in its immersive world-building, thematic depth, and its exploration of complex human relationships within a society driven by fear. It is recommended for viewers who appreciate character-driven dramas with a touch of the unsettling and are interested in films that engage with contemporary social anxieties through a unique and artistic lens.
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