Some movies don’t just end. They sort of linger in the back of your brain like a melody you can’t quite place, or maybe a smell that reminds you of a house you haven't visited since you were ten. The Song of Sway Lake movie is exactly that kind of experience. It’s lush. It’s messy. Honestly, it’s probably one of the most underrated examinations of how we let the past absolutely wreck our present. Released in 2018 (though it hit the festival circuit a bit earlier), directed by Ari Gold, and featuring a soundtrack that basically functions as a lead character, it’s a film about record collecting that is actually about grief.
If you haven't seen it, the plot sounds simple enough. A young man named Ollie, played by Rory Culkin, goes to his family’s faded summer estate after his father’s suicide. He’s there to steal a rare 78rpm record—the "Sway Lake" 1930s jazz hit—that is worth a fortune. He brings along a Russian friend, Nikolai (Robert Sheehan), who is basically a human firecracker. But then his grandmother, the formidable Charlie (Mary Beth Peil), shows up. Chaos, mostly of the emotional and atmospheric variety, ensues.
The Obsession with the "Golden Age" in The Song of Sway Lake Movie
We all know someone who thinks they were born in the wrong decade. In the Song of Sway Lake movie, almost every character is drowning in nostalgia for a time they didn't actually live through, or a version of the past that never really existed. Charlie is clinging to the glamour of the 1940s and 50s at the lake, back when her husband was alive and the world felt "correct." Ollie is obsessed with the physical artifacts of that era.
It’s a bit tragic, really.
The film digs into this idea that we use vintage things—records, old photos, faded wood-shingled houses—as a shield. If Ollie can just find this one rare record, he thinks he can somehow make sense of his father's death. But records are fragile. They scratch. They break. Ari Gold, the director, actually drew from his own family history for this, which is probably why it feels so lived-in. His father was the noted author Herbert Gold, and his mother died in a helicopter crash; that sense of "what do we do with the stuff people leave behind?" permeates every frame.
Why the Soundtrack is the Real Protagonist
You can't talk about this movie without talking about the music. It’s right there in the title. The "Sway Lake" song itself was written by Ari’s brother, Ethan Gold. It sounds like something pulled straight out of 1939. They recorded two versions: one by the legendary John Grant and another by the Staves.
The contrast is wild.
Grant’s version is rich, masculine, and carries that heavy, mid-century crooner vibe. The Staves offer something more ethereal and haunting. In the context of the Song of Sway Lake movie, the music isn't just background noise. It represents the "ghost" of the grandfather and the weight of a legacy that the younger generation can't quite carry. It’s rare to see a film where the sonic texture is as important as the dialogue, but here, the crackle of the needle on the record says more than a three-page monologue ever could.
A Cast That Actually Understands Loneliness
Rory Culkin is the king of playing people who look like they haven't slept in three weeks and might burst into tears if you tap them on the shoulder. He’s perfect here. Ollie is twitchy, resentful, and deeply lost. But the real scene-stealer? Robert Sheehan. Most people know him from Misfits or The Umbrella Academy, where he’s usually the "crazy" one. In this film, his Nikolai is a chaotic force of nature who represents the "now." He’s the only one who isn't looking backward, which makes him both a breath of fresh air and a total nightmare for the other characters.
Then there's Mary Beth Peil. Honestly, her performance as Charlie is masterclass level. She portrays a woman who has spent decades curating her own elegance as a way to hide her disappointment. The way she looks at her grandson—a mix of love and a sort of baffled "how did we get here?"—is heartbreaking.
The chemistry between these three is weird. It’s prickly. They don't really "bond" in the way Hollywood movies usually force people to. They just exist in the same space, bumping into each other’s traumas.
The Landscape as a Time Machine
Sway Lake isn't a real place you can find on a map with that exact name, but it’s filmed in the Adirondacks. It looks like a postcard from 1954 that’s been left out in the rain. The cinematography by Eric Lin is grainy and warm. It feels like 35mm film, even if you’re watching it on a digital stream.
There’s this specific lighting in the movie—that late afternoon, "blue hour" glow—that makes everything look like a memory. It reinforces the theme: everything is fading. The docks are rotting. The wallpaper is peeling. Even the lake itself seems to hold onto secrets. This isn't a "scary" movie, but it has a haunted atmosphere. You’re waiting for something to surface from the water, whether it’s a lost object or a repressed memory.
Misconceptions About the Ending
People often get frustrated with the Song of Sway Lake movie because it doesn't offer a neat "and then they all lived happily ever after" resolution. Some critics at the time felt it was too slow or too focused on aesthetics.
But that's missing the point.
The film is a character study about the futility of trying to own the past. Whether it’s a rare record or a house, you can’t possess a feeling that’s already gone. The ending is quiet. It’s subtle. It suggests that moving on isn't about finding the "missing piece," but realizing the piece was never yours to begin with.
Technical Details and Fact Check
- Director: Ari Gold
- Writer: Ari Gold and Elizabeth Ziff
- Release Year: 2018 (USA)
- Key Cast: Rory Culkin (Ollie), Robert Sheehan (Nikolai), Mary Beth Peil (Charlie), Elizabeth Peña (Marlena)
- Music: Ethan Gold
- Runtime: 100 minutes
Interestingly, this was one of the final roles for Elizabeth Peña, who passed away before the film saw its wide release. She brings a grounded, earthy quality to the film that balances out the more "high-society" neuroses of the Sway family.
How to Actually Watch and Appreciate It
If you’re going to sit down with the Song of Sway Lake movie, don't do it while you're scrolling on your phone. You’ll miss the small stuff. Watch it for the textures. Notice the way the light hits the dust motes in the old record room. Listen to the way the sound design shifts when they’re near the water.
It’s a movie for people who love:
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- Vinyl culture and the "hunt" for rare pressings.
- Intergenerational family dramas that don't hold your hand.
- Stories about the American upper class in decline (think The Great Gatsby but smaller and more intimate).
- Independent cinema that prioritizes mood over explosions.
Honestly, it’s a vibe. A specific, slightly melancholy, very beautiful vibe.
Actionable Takeaways for Film Lovers
To get the most out of the experience or if you've already seen it and want to dive deeper, here is how to engage with the themes of the film:
- Listen to the Soundtrack First: Find Ethan Gold’s "Sway Lake" on Spotify or Apple Music. Listen to the two different versions. It sets the emotional stage before you even see a single frame.
- Look Into the Director’s Short Films: Ari Gold won a Student Oscar for a short called Helicopter, which deals with his mother’s death. Seeing that helps you understand why the grief in Sway Lake feels so authentic and raw.
- Visit the Adirondacks (Virtually or In-Person): The film captures a very specific New York wilderness aesthetic. If you like the look of the film, research the Great Camps of the Adirondacks; they are the real-life inspiration for the Sway estate.
- Check Out "The 78" Culture: The obsession with 78rpm records is a real subculture. Watching documentaries like Desperate Man Blues can give you context on why Ollie’s quest for a single disc isn't actually that crazy in the world of serious collectors.
The movie reminds us that we are all just temporary caretakers of our stuff. Eventually, the "song" ends, and someone else is going to be left holding the record. The trick is learning how to listen to the music while it’s still playing.
Key Resources for Further Exploration:
- The official Ari Gold website for behind-the-scenes essays on the film's production.
- Ethan Gold's musical discography for the full "Sway Lake" suite.
- Interviews with Rory Culkin regarding his approach to "introverted" acting in the film.