Iceland 2016
Opening February 16, 2017
Directed by: Baltasar Kormákur
Writing credits: Baltasar Kormákur
Principal actors: Baltasar Kormákur, Hera Hilmar, Gísli Orn Garðarsson, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson, Margrét Bjarnadóttir, Hera Hilmar
Baltasar Kormákur cuts through the ice with this Icelandic psychological thriller. He not only wrote and directed it but is the main actor Finnur, who happens to be a heart surgeon in Reykjavik. The main character, although respectable, is very aware that he can either take lives or save lives and each encounter is one that takes strong nerves. To deal with that stress he goes on long bicycle rides in the icy cold roads that lead to nowhere. He is married to his second wife Solveig (Bjarnadóttir) and his daughter Anna (Hilmar) no longer lives at home but is a constant source of trouble. Finnur is unable to put his foot down and his daughter becomes more involved with parties and drugs and somehow falls for the drug dealer Ottar (Garðarsson).
Before long, the doctor realizes he has to save his daughter and that he is heading down a dangerous road. The story takes unexpected turns and the more we see a father desperately trying to do the right thing the more we see a man who has lost his way. The film is dark using the Icelandic environment at its coldest moment. The story takes many surprising turns and will keep you guessing until the end. It is a perfect film for a cold winter’s night. 115 minutes.()