A moving and uncompromisingly authentic interrogation of grief.
Maria, a teacher and amateur astronomer, lives with her husband Atli an electrician and retired rock musician, and their daughter Anna, an emerging successful musician. One weekend, Maria has planned to go to their hut in the northern mountains of Iceland to photographs what she believes to be a new comet she has discovered. On the day though, Atli finds he has to work, and Anna has a gig. Maria’s decision to go on her own will change the family irrevocably.
Written and directed by Ásthildur Kjartansdóttir, The Mountain is a passionate yet measured study in grief, and family dynamics. Anchoring the narrative is the powerhouse performance by Björn Hlynur Haraldsson as Atli. Playing Anna is young actor and musician Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney, daughter of Icelandic star Bjork, and American director Matthew Barney. The chemistry between her and Harldsson lights up the screen, giving an authentic and moving picture of father-daughter relations under immense strain. Surrounding these two leads is a superb cast giving us richly fulfilling scenes at Atli’s workplace, Anna’s gigs, and the town in which they all live.
As with many Icelandic productions, the landscape itself is a vital character in the story. Cinematographer Bergsteinn Björgúlfsson and Production Designer Solrun Osk Jonsdottir (set designer on The Valhalla Murders) deliver visuals that both look and feel right.
With its nod to conceptions of infinity through star-gazing, The Mountain asks big questions, yet dares to suggest that the answers may be small, and simple. The universe and its mysteries are ultimately no match for the here-and-now of love, and family.
This was the first officially vetted sustainable production in Iceland, and has been awarded Green Film Sustainability Certification. Which is a great reason in itself to see it.
But the main reason to see The Mountain is that it is a brilliant work of film-making.
The Mountain is showing as part of the Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival from July 23rd at Palace Nova Eastend and Prospect.
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