4/5 Stars  

Plot: “Siblings building a treehouse together over the course of a year. We experience the beauty and brutality of the seasons, as we follow them through their struggles and moments of joy.” -IMDB 

Review: My dad was a jack of all trades and a master of none. As kids, this meant my brothers and I had a clubhouse, fort, go-karts, and toy weapons all made lovingly by my father’s hands. As I read the plot to Nest, a wave of nostalgia rushed over me. Digging up some of those childhood memories while watching siblings make a tree house theirs made me step into this world.  

For this entire film, the tree house remains in frame. Seasons change, time passes, and the tree house morphs into something new, but our point of view remains steadfast. In the frame, we watch young boys tempt fate with ploys of danger and mischief. We watch an older sister lead when she needs to do so. We watch a dad do what he can within the constraints of fleeting time.  

Our story changes when one boy falls from the roof of the tree house. You will spend the rest of the film wishing for his safe return. Even with this dramatic shift, the frame remains the same. The tree house is both subject and object. It is the rallying point for this beautifully simplistic film. All around it, Iceland and the elements attempt to be a character, but they matter little when compared to those who love this gathering spot.  

With a screen fade to black, a smile creeped across my face. There is so much I miss about my childhood, but time spent with my brothers in our backyard may top the list. Thanks for the reminder, Nest.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan