As a psychologist who saw this film in Reykjavik, I found it interesting to observe an Icelandic take on family dysfunction.
Here we have the story of Indiana (Sigrun Edda Bjornsdottir) and her pushing-40, single son Orri (played by "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" star Steve Carell look-alike Audunn Blondel), as toxic a related dyad as ever appeared on screen.
Indiana is the estranged daughter of an alcoholic mother, and she's still bitter about the love and attention she missed. She's tried to compensate for her deprivation by focusing obsessively on Orri, raising him to share her own real or imagined illnesses. It seems Indiana's sole, unadulterated joy has been the nurturance of an exotic, flowering tree in her courtyard.
Indiana's life starts to unravel when government bureaucrats condemn the golden-petaled Laburnum for being non-native to Iceland, and Orri develops a relationship with Daniella (played by the lovely Polish actress Karolina Gruszka, who grappled with Icelandic for the first time in taking this role), an aide at Orri's grandmother's nursing home.
Indiana decompensates as her two love objects slip from her grasp. Sigrun puts in an interesting performance that has her careening between mood swings. One definitely wonders why Orri and Daniela put up with her so long. (Indeed, there is a certain exaggeration to the direction here that is a little off-putting.)
Also good are Halldora Geirhardsdottir as Johanna, Indiana's kindly neighbor and best friend, and former Reykjavik Mayor Jon Gnarr as trawlerman Hjalti Petur, Indiana's highly insensitive lover.
I have been visiting Iceland every winter and was thrilled to have had a chance to view a recent Icelandic film with English subtitles at Reykjavik's premier movie theater, the Bio Paradis. It's a lovely place offering a cozy, candlelit waiting area where one can order delicious coffee and other fare.
This film and the place in which I viewed it made for a wonderful experience that I hope to repeat on future trips.
Here we have the story of Indiana (Sigrun Edda Bjornsdottir) and her pushing-40, single son Orri (played by "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" star Steve Carell look-alike Audunn Blondel), as toxic a related dyad as ever appeared on screen.
Indiana is the estranged daughter of an alcoholic mother, and she's still bitter about the love and attention she missed. She's tried to compensate for her deprivation by focusing obsessively on Orri, raising him to share her own real or imagined illnesses. It seems Indiana's sole, unadulterated joy has been the nurturance of an exotic, flowering tree in her courtyard.
Indiana's life starts to unravel when government bureaucrats condemn the golden-petaled Laburnum for being non-native to Iceland, and Orri develops a relationship with Daniella (played by the lovely Polish actress Karolina Gruszka, who grappled with Icelandic for the first time in taking this role), an aide at Orri's grandmother's nursing home.
Indiana decompensates as her two love objects slip from her grasp. Sigrun puts in an interesting performance that has her careening between mood swings. One definitely wonders why Orri and Daniela put up with her so long. (Indeed, there is a certain exaggeration to the direction here that is a little off-putting.)
Also good are Halldora Geirhardsdottir as Johanna, Indiana's kindly neighbor and best friend, and former Reykjavik Mayor Jon Gnarr as trawlerman Hjalti Petur, Indiana's highly insensitive lover.
I have been visiting Iceland every winter and was thrilled to have had a chance to view a recent Icelandic film with English subtitles at Reykjavik's premier movie theater, the Bio Paradis. It's a lovely place offering a cozy, candlelit waiting area where one can order delicious coffee and other fare.
This film and the place in which I viewed it made for a wonderful experience that I hope to repeat on future trips.
