The Song of Sway Lake (2018): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Song of Sway Lake is a 2018 drama musical directed by Ari Gold, starring Mary Beth Peil as Charlie Sway, Brian Dennehy and Elizabeth Peña. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide. Critics gave it 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Ari Gold
- Original language
-
Spanish - Studio
- The Orchard
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Song of Sway Lake About?
The premise of The Song of Sway Lake without spoilers.
Rember Yahuarcani confronts his past as long-dormant memories of his White Heron clan begin to resurface. He embarks on a journey of self-discovery, seeking to blend these recollections with his artistic pursuits. This process awakens a profound connection to Sway Lake, revealing a deeply personal and evocative song within him.
The Song of Sway Lake Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- watch
- swimming
- skinny dipping
- motorboat
- horseback riding
- reference to new york city
- lake
- dog jumping into water
- snow covered
- suicide
- falling into a lake
- frozen lake
+38 more Show fewer
- covered in snow
- record player
- stereo
- stationwagon
- breaking a window
- sitting on dock
- drinking beer from a bottle
- russian character
- urinating outdoors
- cooking steak
- lake placid craft brewing company beer
- croquet
- croquet mallet
- tricycle
- riding a tricycle
- rowboat
- rowing a boat
- drinking shots
- piano
- chopsticks the song
- playing piano
- father son relationship
- bare chested man
- walking around nude
- airplane
- jetski
- praying
- reference to cuba
- drinking wine
- reading old letters
- wheelbarrow
- binoculars
- reference to cupid
- yard work
- looking in a mirror
- chopping wood
- ringing a bell
- mouse
The Song of Sway Lake Cast & Characters
Mary Beth Peil leads the cast as Charlie Sway, with Brian Dennehy as Hal Sway and Elizabeth Peña as Marlena. Directed by Ari Gold; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ari Gold
- Mary Beth Peil as Charlie Sway
-
Brian Dennehy as Hal Sway -
Elizabeth Peña as Marlena -
Robert Sheehan as Nikolai
Also Starring in The Song of Sway Lake
· 6 more- Rory Culkin Ollie
- Anna Shields Heather
- Jack Falahee Jimmy
- Isabelle McNally Isadora
- John W. Bard Biker Man
- Gary Arzberger Volunteer Fireman
More from Ari Gold
More films directed by Ari Gold, best-rated first: Adventures of Power and Helicopter.
The Song of Sway Lake Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Song of Sway Lake 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in story & flow (62).
The Song of Sway Lake Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Song of Sway Lake excels in crafting an atmospheric portrayal of nostalgia while struggling with narrative focus. Critics and viewers alike commended its cinematography, production design, and evocative soundtrack, as well as strong performances by key actors. However, the plot’s uneven pacing and thematic diffusion tempered audience engagement. This balance between immersive sensory richness and sporadic storytelling coherence results in a film that resonates through mood even as it defies traditional narrative structure.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
In terms of art and craft, The Song of Sway Lake offers a consistently engaging visual presentation. Critics and viewers highlighted its panoramic cinematography, the understated color palette of its lakeside locale, and carefully composed production design. The film’s direction employs measured camera movements to evoke nostalgia. Overall, the film’s art direction sustains its atmospheric identity.
- Character & Emotion 76
When it comes to character and emotion, performances anchor the film’s emotional core. Many observers praised Elizabeth Peña’s dignified portrayal and Robert Sheehan’s dynamic energy alongside Rory Culkin’s reflective presence. While some found the lead’s development uneven, supporting roles provided genuine warmth and chemistry. In sum, character portrayals offer moments of poignant insight despite occasional imbalance.
- Story & Flow 62
In terms of story and flow, the narrative’s nostalgic framing yields both strength and weakness. Many appreciated its original take on memory and recreations of past eras, yet others pointed to a lack of thematic cohesion and uneven pacing. Plot developments occasionally meander, diluting dramatic momentum. Altogether, the story maintains wistful appeal despite structural inconsistencies.
- Sensory Experience 76
When considering the sensory experience, the film presents a rich audio-visual tapestry. Reviewers cited Ethan Gold’s haunting melodies and carefully selected vintage records, complemented by meticulous sound design. Visually, the muted color palette and fluid editing enhance the atmosphere of reflective nostalgia. Altogether, sensory elements form a compelling cohesion that elevates the film’s mood.
- Rewatch Factor 69
Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s evocative setting and emotive soundtrack encourage repeat viewings. Several praised its immersive qualities and moments of performance nuance that reveal themselves over time. However, the film’s uneven story progression and occasional lack of dramatic drive may limit enduring appeal for some viewers. On balance, it offers moderate replay value rooted in mood.
-
IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 51 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 51% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 1.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Song of Sway Lake Box Office
The Song of Sway Lake grossed $1.1 million worldwide. $1.1 million came from the US and Canada and $63,603 (6%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.1M
- US & Canada
- $1.1M
- International
- $63.6K
The Song of Sway Lake Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Song of Sway Lake.
The Song of Sway Lake Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Песента на езерото Суей” and “Pieśń jeziora Sway”.
- Also known as
-
- Песента на езерото Суей
- Pieśń jeziora Sway
- Песня о Свэй-Лэйк
- 斯威湖之歌
Seen The Song of Sway Lake?
Movies Like The Song of Sway Lake
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Lakeboat, The Song and Swimming.
The Song of Sway Lake FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of The Song of Sway Lake, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Song of Sway Lake?
The Song of Sway Lake runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was The Song of Sway Lake released?
The Song of Sway Lake was released on September 21, 2018.
Who directed The Song of Sway Lake?
The Song of Sway Lake was directed by Ari Gold.
More films by Ari Gold Who is in the cast of The Song of Sway Lake?
The Song of Sway Lake stars Mary Beth Peil as Charlie Sway, Brian Dennehy as Hal Sway and Elizabeth Peña as Marlena, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Song of Sway Lake make at the box office?
The Song of Sway Lake grossed $1.1 million worldwide ($1.1 million domestic, $63,603 international).
How is The Song of Sway Lake rated?
The Song of Sway Lake has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 51 on Metacritic, 51% on TMDB and 1.0/5 on Movie Insider.
Does The Song of Sway Lake have a post-credit scene?
No. The Song of Sway Lake has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Song of Sway Lake in?
The original language of The Song of Sway Lake is Spanish.
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