68
Metascore
13 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Screen DailyDan FainaruScreen DailyDan FainaruIt may not qualify as a movie entertainment in the full sense of the word, but it is most certainly an edifying picture of social stagnation at its saddest.
- 70The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenYou come at the story, such as it is, as a visitor from the outside world, picking up information as the movie goes along. This approach impedes comprehension, and at moments you may be tempted to sit back and not try to make the pieces fit. For those unwilling to make the effort, Songs My Brothers Taught Me has other rewards.
- 70Village VoiceAaron HillisVillage VoiceAaron HillisThe performances are undeniably authentic, the cinematography could make Terrence Malick stand to give a slow clap, and sometimes a sensitive mood and evocative milieu are enough to sustain when there's barely a plot.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe balance of humanistic and ethnographic filmmaking with poignant, often seemingly unscripted drama has many rewards.
- 70VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyA sparely plotted, low-key but ultimately rewarding slice of South Dakota reservation life.
- 67The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloViewers will be torn between admiring its laid-back naturalism and wishing it possessed just a little more oomph.
- 63RogerEbert.comGodfrey CheshireRogerEbert.comGodfrey CheshireThe story’s ending, complete with lyrical voice-over, conveys the beauty and emotional attraction of the place and its traditions, virtues also relayed by Joshua James Richard’s sumptuous, sometimes breathtaking cinematography.
- 63New York PostFarran Smith NehmeNew York PostFarran Smith NehmeWhere Zhao excels is in the range of emotions she gets from a mostly nonprofessional cast.
- 60The GuardianJordan HoffmanThe GuardianJordan HoffmanThe restrained performances and luscious location photography are enough to make this a film worth exploring, though it might not be a bad idea to down a few caffeine-rich drinks before settling in to watch.
- 50Slant MagazineClayton DillardSlant MagazineClayton DillardThe film is more taken by its own formal composition than enunciating the musical edification promised by its title.