Kvikmyndapod: An Icelandic Cinema Podcast

A Letter From Helga (2022) aka Svar við bréfi Helgu

Halló!

This week Rob and Ellie travel north to the remote area of Strandir in the Icelandic Westfjords for a romantic period piece.

In Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir's 'A Letter From Helga', or 'Svar við bréfi Helgu', farmers Bjarni and Helga (played beautifully by Thorvaldur Kristjansson and Hera Hilmar) begin a passionate affair as the rest of their small town whisper secrets to one another.

Emotions run high and big decisions need to be made while the rugged and wild landscapes of the north of Iceland serve as a backdrop to both characters' mental and physical journeys.

Based on a well-loved novel by Bergsveinn Birgisson, this was available to watch with English subtitles via the RUV website earlier in the year (here) so keep an eye out in case it returns!

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Wild Game (2023) aka Villibráð

Kvikmyndapod is back for series 6!

For episode one, Rob and Ellie invite you to a funny, stressful and cringe dinner party in Vesturbær.

Directed by Elsa Maria Jakobsdóttir, 'Wild Game' is one of over 20 country-specific adaptations of the Italian movie 'Perfetti sconosciuti', 'Perfect Strangers'. This version features an all star Icelandic cast including Anita Briem, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Þuríður Blær Jóhannsdóttir, Gísli Örn Garðarsson and Hilmar Guðjónsson. 

A group of close friends get together and their biggest secrets are revealed during a game involving their mobile phones. Could it be that someone is cheating? Or that another is hiding their true sexuality? These questions will be answered!

Available to watch with English subtitles via the RUV website until the 1^st of March (here) this is an explosive start to the sixth series of Kvikmyndapod!

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Operation Napoleon: Frozen Conspiracy (2023) aka Napóleonsskjölin

Halló!

It's that time again, and on this week's episode Rob and Ellie return to Reykjavík for a conspiracy thriller based on a book.

The film is Óskar Thór Axelsson's 'Operation Napoleon: Frozen Conspiracy', based on Arnaldur Indriðason's 1999 best-selling novel 'Operation Napoleon'. Starring Iain Glen, Vivian Ólafsdóttir, Jack Fox and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson this is a romp in the vein of the 'Indiana Jones' films but with glaciers, modern technology and an assassin who likes to use pencils...

With action, an actual historical conspiracy and a supporting cast that includes the landlady from 'Ted Lasso' and pod favourite Þröstur Leó, this is a fun Hollywood-style movie with breathtaking Icelandic landscapes actually portraying themselves! And it will be available in the UK to stream on demand from the 14th August.

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Rift (2017) aka Rökkur

Halló!

This week, for Rob and Ellie's fifth trip around the cinema of Iceland, they head back out to the countryside for some creepy goings on at a remote cabin... 

The film under discussion this week is Erlingur Thoroddsen’s ‘Rift’, or ‘Rokkur’ from 2017. Gunnar (Björn Stefánsson) and Einar (Sigurður Þór Óskarsson) get to grips with their fractured relationship amid some spooky situations in the middle of nowhere. Questions abound in this stunningly shot and brilliantly acted indie horror movie.

Available in the UK to rent or buy on Amazon or to stream on Flix Premiere or Revry.

Thank you to those who have supported the podcast so far by donating to us via ko-fi!

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

 

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Godland (2022) aka Volaða Land / Vanskabte Land

Halló!

This week Rob and Ellie take another trip to south east Iceland just in time for the UK release of Hlynur Pálmason's Godland!

An incredibly shot epic about a Danish priest's mission to conquer a corner of Iceland and spread the word of God, this is film-making of the highest level.

Elliott Crosset Hove stars as Lucas, the Danish man of God who butts heads with Ingvar Sigurðsson's Ragnar, an Icelandic man very much of the land.

To see this film is to take in the majesty of the landscape and the complexities of a country once under the rule of another.

Available to watch in UK cinemas (including the Bristol Watershed) and on Curzon Home Cinema from 7th April, Godland is a stunning piece of work and features eerie music from Dirty Beaches' Alex Zhang Hungtai and magnificent cinematography once again from Maria von Hausswolff.

Also starring Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Vic Carmen Sonne and Jacob Lohmann.

 

Rob and Ellie also recently had a great time chatting about the non-Icelandic bonkers Jason Statham movie Crank on Flixwatcher podcast which you can listen to here: Crank!

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Quake (2021) aka Skjálfti

Halló!

Episode three finds Rob and Ellie back in Reykjavík for a psychological thriller from first time director Tinna Hrafnsdóttir, who also wrote the film based on a book by Auður Jónsdóttir.

'Quake', or 'Skjálfti' from 2021 tells the story of an author and mother named Saga who, after an epileptic seizure, experiences memory loss at the same time as hidden memories of family secrets begin to resurface.

With a brilliant central performance from Anita Briem, this is a cold, noir-ish look at how memory works, the cost of keeping secrets, and what it means to want to protect your family.

Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sveinn Geirsson and Jóhann Sigurðarson give great supporting turns as Saga's mostly well-meaning family, and Tómas Örn Tómasson's cinematography is suitably stark and beautiful.

'Quake' is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon.

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

My Year of Dicks (2022) and Interview with Director Sara Gunnarsdóttir

Halló!

The second episode of series 5 takes Rob and Ellie to 90s America for a 25-minute, Oscar-nominated coming-of-age animation called 'My Year of Dicks'!

Directed by Sara Gunnarsdóttir and written by American screenwriter and actress Pamela Ribon, the short film is split into five chapters, each one about young Pam's encounters with the boy's she hopes will fall in love with her and take her virginity.

Available to watch now at www.myyearofdicks.com, this a hilarious, heartfelt, super cringe and brilliantly animated exploration of what sex means to a teenage girl.

This exciting episode is split in two; the first half is a fun conversation with Sara herself (the first Icelandic female director to be nominated for an Oscar!), while in the second half Rob and Ellie discuss the film in detail.

 

Oh, and the brilliant end music is I Want it All by the brilliant Mr. Silla.

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Beautiful Beings (2022) aka Berdreymi

Halló!

It's series 5! And to kick things off for their fifth journey through the cinema of Iceland, Rob and Ellie are keeping things current with Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson's 'Beautiful Beings', or 'Berdreymi' from 2022!

Available to watch on demand from today, Guðmundsson's second feature film focuses on teenage boys once again, except this time in the city. Set in the Reykjavik suburbs, this film focuses on a group of boys and the violence that surrounds them as Addi, Konni and Siggi befriend the bullied Balli and the four of them navigate the brutal world of noughties teenagedom.

Starring a group of fantastic newcomers, as with 'Heartstone', as well as some stalwarts in Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and Anita Briem, this is a beautiful but brutal coming-of-age drama with a surprising supernatural element.

'Beautiful Beings' is not for the faint-of-heart, but is richly rewarding should you choose to press play; wonderful performances, stunning cinematography and an interesting look under the surface of suburbia.

 

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Christmas! aka Jól!

Halló!

And gleðileg jól!

As a little Christmas gift, Rob and Ellie reconvened for a short chat about Christmas, Christmas films, Icelandic films and Icelandic Christmas.

This episode is mostly a general chat, however part of the discussion does revolve around a small scene from Grímur Hákonarson's 'Rams' or 'Hrútar' from 2015 - the very first film covered on the podcast. The scene timecode is 45:30 - 52:27 and the film is available on DVD and Blu-ray, as well to rent or buy on Apple TV, BFI Player and Chili. Or you can stream it for free at MUBI, where you can get 30 days free trial if you follow this link: www.mubi.com/kvikmyndapod

Merry Christmas and Rob and Ellie will be back in the New Year.

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Life In A Fishbowl (2014) aka Vonarstræti

Halló!

And so another journey through the cinema of Iceland ends. For this final episode of series four, Rob and Ellie discuss the multi-narrative drama 'Life in a Fishbowl' from 2014.

Baldvin Z's second feature follows the lives of three Icelanders living in Reykjavik and the ways in which they influence each other, for better or worse. One is a single mother and occasional sex worker, one is an alcoholic writer, and the other is a footballer-turned-financial businessman.

Starring Þorsteinn Bachmann, Hera Hilmar and Thor Kristjansson, this is a look at the real Reykjavik, the side that tourists don't often see. At times hard-hitting and tough to watch, at others beautiful and heartwarming, it's no wonder this was the Number 1 film in Iceland the year it was released.

Rob and Ellie will return for a pre-Christmas special but in the meantime join us on social media and keep your eyes on your podcast feeds!

Thanks to all our listeners, new and old, and to everyone involved in the films we've covered!

 

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Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)

 

Music by Branches Bare

('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)