Pren ar y Bryn / Tree on a Hill

S4C/BBC/Fiction Factory Films

A darkly comic caper through the repercussions of mysterious yet devastating crime, and its impact on a close-knit community. Quirky and nostalgic, the series was lauded for it’s Wes-Anderson infused style and standout soundtrack.

Music reviews:

““Tree” has one of the most present and invigorating musical scores I’ve heard in a long time, which adds to the show’s murky-dreamy atmosphere. All that ache comes out as a wailing trumpet; the anxious, morose busyness of a cover-up expressed through bluesy clarinet.” (Margaret Lyons, New York Times)

“The music for the series has been lauded for its distinctive approach …In their quest to create a sound-world unlike conventional drama scoring, the composers utilized acoustic, ancient, and found instruments, eschewing big orchestral gestures and sample pack sounds familiar from other genres.” (Nation.Cymru)

“The score is sensational, at times majestic, comic, eerie, extraordinary, frightening and absolutely unique” (Rotten Tomatoes, Critic review, Anne Brodie)

General reviews:

“A darkly comic tale, a love letter to the stunning landscapes, characterful communities and languages of the Swansea valley.” (Guardian UK)

“Another iteration of the ‘regular people accidentally do a big crime’ format. But it is executed with edge and originality, correcting some of the genre’s most frustrating elements and adding its own jazzy panache.” (Margaret Lyons, New York Times)