Iceland, Denmark, 2015, 93’
directed by: Grímur Hákonarson
written by: Grímur Hákonarson
cast: Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Theodór Júlíusson, Charlotte Bøving, Jón Benónýsson, Þorleifur Einarsson, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, Gunnar Jónsson
cinematography: Sturla Brandth Grøvlen
edited by: Kristján Loðmfjörð
producers: Grímar Jónsson
production: Netop Films
Iceland’s entry for the Academy Awards – Best Foreign Language Film; Cannes FF 2015 – Un Certain Regard – Grand Prix; Transilvania IFF 2015 – Special Jury Award, Audience Award; European FF Palić 2015 – Grand Prix; Toronto IFF 2015; Karlovy Vary IFF 2015; Telluride FF 2015.
In the solitude of a remote Iceland valley, two brothers – Gummi and Kiddi – are raising sheep. Although they live on adjacent farms, they haven't spoken to each other for 40 years. When Kiddi's award-winning flock of sheep is struck by a lethal contageous disease, the whole valley becomes endangered. In order to prevent the outbreak, the authorities decide to kill all the animals. To the farmers who live off the sheep, it is like a death penalty. Many of them decide to leave their homes. However, Gummi and Kiddi refuse to give in. In order to save the valuable, generation-old breed – and also themselves – the estranged brothers are forced to team up. In a warm and subtle way, Hákonarson's second feature film and Icelandic entry for this year's Oscar depicts the deeply rooted rural culture which is inextricably connected with the Icelandic national spirit. And all this against the backdrop of fantastic northern landscapes.
Grímur Hákonarson was born in 1977, graduated from FAMU – Film Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. His graduate film Slavek The Shit was selected to the Cinefoundation section of the Cannes Film Festival 2005 and won 12 festival prizes, including the „Silver Hugo“ at the Chicago International Film Festival. His short film Wrestling premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and won 25 festival prizes around the world.
