The Frozen North (101 Reykjavik (DVD))

Member Name: Hunting_Bears

Product:	101 Reykjavik (DVD)
Date:	09/10/03 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: very funny, great performances

Disadvantages: none

'101 Reykjavik' is an incredibly funny film. The narrative follows a thirty year old 'layabout' named Hilmir (Hilmir Snaer) living in Reykjavik, his main activities are going out and getting drunk, looking at porn on the internet and that's about it. Hilmir could be a contender for laziest person in the world. The man just wants to get through life without doing anything. When asked what he will do with his life he replies "I'll stay on the dole and when that runs out, I'll go onto my old age pension". Everything unravels in his cosy world when Hilmir's mother invites a Spanish friend to stay with them for Christmas and New Year. When his mother goes to see relatives, Hilmir is left alone with Lola (Victoria Abril) and after a drunken party they sleep together. A big shock awaits Hilmir when he discovers his mother and Lola are more than just friends, worse is to come when Hilmir finds out Lola is pregnant. Hilmir's life, which was once very simplistic, is now very complex and he doesn't like it.

This is the first Icelandic film I have ever had the pleasure to see. I found it to be not only to be a funny film but also quite moving in that the film's message is that "no matter how much we want our lives to be simplistic and straight forward, they inevitably get complex". The film is about a man learning to feel human emotion and except the fact he is growing old.

The setting of Reykjavik was new to me and I must say it looks a mixture of incredible beauty and also very boring. Hilmir says to Lola in one scene "The only reason people live here is because they were born here".

The acting by the cast is superb all-around and there are many standout scenes including my person favourite when Hilmir fantasies about killing his entire family at a Christmas gathering, the over-the-top violent nature as the family members are killed with a shotgun in slow mo
tion is downright hilarious.

The film belongs to Hilmer and the actor who plays him, the man is one of cinema's funniest anti-heroes. With a performance that at first comes across as plain comedy, it turns into a rather moving portray of growing up, the scene towards the end where he tries to commit suicide by freezing to death on a mountaintop is very sad.

'101 Reykjavik' also features a brilliant soundtrack courtesy of a collaboration between Damon Albarn (who also did a great soundtrack with Michael Nyman for 'Ravenous') and ex-Sugarcubes member Einar Orn Bennedictsson). The music is rather eccentric like the film and the main theme 'Dub Lola' is a re-working of a famous song by Ray Davis.


I honestly do not know much about Icelandic cinema but I will try and discover more after watching this excellent comedy. Another thing worth mentioning is that the film is both in English and Icelandic, so don't be put off watching it because it is a commercial film and not an art film.

Overall the film features, great acting, lovely cinematography and killer music. My review is rather short I admit but I don't want to spoil the effect of the film for the prospective audience. Just watch the film!

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