30/07/2026 - Herbert Nordrum and Asta Kamma August lead the cast in the director’s adaptation of Knut Hamsun's Nobel Prize-winning novel of an epic love story set in rural Norway

Norwegian filmmaker Hans Petter Moland's latest feature, Growth of the Soil, has been selected for the Special Presentations programme at the Toronto International Film Festival (10-20 September, see the news), where it will celebrate its world premiere. It will then travel to the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival (18-26 September), where it will compete for the Golden Shell (see the news).

Based on Knut Hamsun's 1917 Nobel Prize-winning novel, Growth of the Soil is an epic love story set against the majestic yet unforgiving landscapes of rural Norway. The story follows Isak, a mysterious man who ventures into the remote wilderness in search of a place to settle. There, high above the tree line, he carves out a life from the barren land and meets Inger, a solitary woman marked by resilience and carrying a guarded secret. Together, they build a life from the ground up, cultivate the land and raise a family as the seasons pass. But as the years go by and the outside world gradually draws closer, time, hardship and desire reshape them. One question remains: does love last forever?

Norwegian actor Herbert Nordrum (known internationally for The Worst Person in the World), stars as Isak opposite Swedish-Danish actress Asta Kamma August (Kalak, The Kingdom Exodus) as Inger. The pair previously starred opposite each other as a couple in Ernst De Geer's comedy-drama The Hypnosis. The supporting cast includes Gard B Eidsvold (Quisling, Grand Hotel), alongside Anders Baasmo (Kon-Tiki, Welcome to Norway), Oddgeir Thune (Loveable) and Sjur Vatne Brean (Out Stealing Horses).

Moland directs from a screenplay co-written with Eidsvold, adapting Hamsun's eponymous novel. Hamsun was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920, and his works have since been translated into more than 40 languages. One of Norway's most internationally acclaimed filmmakers, Moland made his feature debut with The Last Lieutenant before directing Zero Kelvin, starring Stellan Skarsgård, which won the Special Jury Prize at San Sebastián. His subsequent credits include The Beautiful Country, A Somewhat Gentle Man, In Order of Disappearance and Out Stealing Horses, all of them screened in competition at the Berlinale, with the latter winning the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution for its cinematography. Growth of the Soil marks Moland's 14th theatrical feature, and in 2025 he received the Norwegian Amanda Honorary Award.

Principal photography took place entirely on location in Norway between June and December 2025. Behind the camera, Oskar Dahlsbakken (Possession, Munch) served as director of photography, while Linda Man edited the film. Thomas Øyjordsbakken Odland handled production design, Anne Pedersen designed the costumes. Danish composer Kaspar Kaae (Fjord, In Order of Disappearance) penned the original score.

Growth of the Soil is produced by Håkon Øverås for 4½ Fiction AS as a co-production with Chris Sanger and Birgitte Skov for Scanbox Productions. The project received support from the Norwegian Film Institute. Beta Cinema is handling international sales, while Scanbox Entertainment and Ymer Media will distribute the film theatrically in Scandinavia, with the Norwegian release set for the end of October.