10 Icelandic films and TV series to watch
Last year, I embarked on ‘a musical journey to Iceland‘, a country that I am yet to visit in person. Then, I went on ‘a cinematic journey to the Nordic countries‘, whereas earlier this year, I embarked on a wellbeing journey inspired and accompanied by the Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson. Since then, I happened to have watched several beautiful Icelandic films and TV series. So, today, I’m embarking on another virtual journey to the Land of Fire and Ice to re-visit those Icelandic films and TV series I’ve watched.
Icelandic Films
The County
‘The County’ (‘Héraðið’) was one of the first films I watched at the cinema, once cinemas were allowed to re-open in the UK. Directed by Grímur Hákonarson, it travels us to rural Iceland, where a woman fights against a mafia-like organization and against the injustice that this organization perpetuates.
Last and First Men
Based on Olaf Stapledon’s 1930 novel of the same name and directed by the late composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, ‘Last and First Men’ takes us to a very distant future, when Homo Sapiens have evolved and now have a lifespan of thousands of years. Even though the story is fantastical, I would not describe this 70-minute-long film as science fiction; I think this is a rather restrictive, if not misleading, label. ‘Last and First Men’ is rather an audio-visual philosophical journey; Jóhannsson’s soundtrack and Tilda Swinton’s narration (in English) accompany the black-and-white imagery, which depicts the brutalist Spomeniks, socialist-era monuments in former Yugoslavia that look like alien art. Other than the narrator, there are no other characters, nor is there any visible action on the screen.
‘Last and First Men’ is currently available on BFI Player.
Island Songs
‘Island Songs’ is the most recent Icelandic film I’ve watched. It is a 70-minute-long documentary film directed by Baldvin Zophoníasson (Baldvin Z) and co-written with Ólafur Arnalds. According to the famous musician, ‘Island Songs’ is a unique audio-visual portrait of his home country, Iceland. In 2016, Ólafur traveled to seven different locations in Iceland over seven weeks, collaborating with seven different artists, including Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, the lead singer of the band Of Monsters and Men. This resulted in the release of his album ‘Island Songs’, as well as this film, with features his beautiful music, dramatic Icelandic landscapes, and discussions with some of the musicians that Ólafur collaborated with.
‘Island Songs’ was released on YouTube on 29 July 2020.
The Seer and the Unseen
‘The Seer and the Unseen’ is a dramatized documentary film directed by Sara Dosa. Set against a backdrop of manmade environmental changes, economic collapse and Icelandic landscapes, it follows a middle-aged woman who believes in invisible elves.
A White, White Day
‘A White, White Day’ (‘Hvítur, Hvítur Dagur’) is a 2019 Icelandic drama starring Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson. Hlynur Pálmason’s film is about Ingimundur, a Police Officer mourning the loss of his wife. In the aftermath of her tragic death, he discovers that she’d had an affair with another man, and goes on to investigate… ‘A White, White Day’ was selected as the Icelandic entry for this year’s Oscars, but it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
The Juniper Tree
I watched ‘The Juniper Tree’ (‘Einitréð’) at the 2019 BFI London Film Festival. This 1990 film was directed and written by the American Nietzchka Keene; in 2018, it was restored by the Center for Film & Theatre Research, in Wisconsin. It is a very minimalistic film shot in black and white and stars only 5 actors, including Björk Guðmundsdóttir. ‘The Juniper Tree’ is actually the first of the three feature films starring the famous Icelandic singer (she also starred in ‘Dancer in the Dark’ and ‘Drawing Restraint 9’). Although all the actors are Icelandic, the film is in English. It is based on an Icelandic fairytale.
Jar City
‘Jar City’ (‘Mýrin’) is a 2006 film based on Arnaldur Indriðason’s novel of the same name (the third one in his ‘Reykjavík Murder’ series, but the first one to be translated to English). Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, it stars Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson in the role of Detective Erlendur. Investigating the murder of a middle-aged man, the detective finds the answer in events that took place decades ago.
Icelandic TV Series
Cover Story
‘Cover Story’ (‘Pressa’) is a 12-episode crime drama set in Reykjavik. The series begins with a young woman found dead, and a journalist on the verge of bankruptcy starting to investigate.
‘Cover Story’ is currently available on Channel 4.
The Court
‘The Court’ (‘Réttur’) is a legal drama also taking place in the Icelandic capital. Seasons 1 and 2 have 6 episodes each, with each episode featuring several different legal cases.
‘The Court’ is currently available on Channel 4.
Case
‘Case’ is a spin-off of ‘The Court’ and features two of the actors from the latter in the same roles (as lawyers). Unlike ‘The Court’ though, here the lawyers deal with one single case in all 9 episodes of the ‘Case’.
Unfortunately, ‘Case’ is no longer available on Channel 4.
Further reading
If you’re more of a bookworm rather than a cinephile, check out my post ‘X-mas Book Flood: Jólabókaflóðið, Yule & Murder’.
But, if you’re more of a musicophile, then follow my ‘musical journey to Iceland’.
Or, simply listen to Ólafur Arnalds’s brand new music:
If you’re a fan of Icelandic films and TV series, you may also enjoy those ’12 Norwegian TV series to watch’.
Alex
(the soon-to-be-Traveling-again-Psychiatrist)