Lamb: While this film is based on Icelandic folklore it is also influenced by Director Valdimar Jóhannsson's childhood experiences on his grandparents farm The quotidian experiences of farm life are shown as couple Maria (Noomi Rapace) and Ingvar (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) share the chores, sometimes he drives the tractor, on other occasions she does. Life is quite, they seem relatively happy but a lot seems unsaid. The strangeness is present from Lamb's opening scenes though, a creature trudges through a blizzard breathing heavily, scattering a herd of wild ponies. A ram watches through a window as the entity approaches a shed. It enters and the ewes are disturbed. The next day Maria and Ingvar see a ewe give birth to a hybrid sheep/human, while they are surprised they accept it as does Ingvar's brother Pétur (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson) when he arrives at the farm. The film presupposes a reality where such things occur. At times the narrative of the film unfolds like a soap and might flippantly be described as Emmerdale/Glenroe with Weresheep. But it is far stranger than such a facile interpretation. Ada is intelligent and though she cannot speak understands what the humans say. There are some disturbing scenes, a few of stark horror but most of this occurs in the final twenty minutes of the film. An intriguing tale set in the beautiful Icelandic mountain scenery where the farm abuts a mountain whose crags and peaks look suitably sinister in the mist. Directed & Co-Written by Valdimar Jóhannsson. 8/10.
