Scandinavian cinema. "Hrútar" - movie review

"Hrútar" is a co-production between Iceland and Denmark. The film was the official Oscar nomination for Iceland and received the prestigious Special Watch at the Cannes Film Festival before three years. The production has more accolades, which I think undoubtedly deserves. The plot is simple but extremely influential. This is the story of two brothers, Gums and Kitti, who live in a remote Icelandic valley. "Hrútar" is a fairy tale about the lives of ordinary people. Tires and Kitty have not been talking for 40 years. One is rude and expressive, the other coarse and good. This largely explains the huge gap in their relationship. They grow a rare breed of sheep, which are often favorites in professional competitions. The rivalry between Tires and Kitty is well known to local people. Unexpected and ruthless disease completely changes the dynamics in the valley. "Hrútar" takes the banal and turns it into existential. Most of the time, the viewer is with Gummy - a lifeless man who loves the animals with all his heart. The role is played by actor Sigridur Sigurursson, who looked so real that he successfully transferred his emotions to me. The everyday anguish of two alienated and cranky characters with ease becomes close to the viewer. The director skillfully alternates dramatic scenes and absurdly entertaining moments.

"Hrútar" is not a standard drama, nor a pure comedy. The story is sad-funny. It is distinguished by originality. Minimalistically built into the existence of two aging bearded bands, the film elegantly conveys truths about the life and purpose of existence that make sense to us. In the plot you will find hatred and confrontation, but also love, though it is buried under deep layers of snow. Love and hate are very conventional feelings of exploitation in the cinema, but here they are placed in a non-standard environment and possess both uniqueness and their own identity. The positive qualities of "Ohni" are many and I hardly think of anything I do not like. For starters - the movie is 93 minutes. Its length is perfect because the tempo is smooth and clear. The atmosphere is great and the main factors behind it are two - the beautiful soundtrack of Atle Jorvarson and the majestic northern landscapes shot great. The humor and the measured direction, combined with the solid performances of the actors, make "Hrútar" a high-quality cinema. Dialogues are short and tight. The characters don't speak much, but the actions reveal their characters entirely. There is room for everything in the valley - stubbornness, stiffness, despair, loneliness, and even rage. The brothers are alienated to the extreme, but with the same extreme they love their animals."Hrútar" is a slow and expressive film. It has a strong effect and leaves a long aftertaste. It creates a powerful connection with nature and reveals a fragment of Iceland's cool beauty. It provokes various reflections on the purposes in life that make people work. A movie about the fragility of existence and the terrible fear of losing the labor of your life. Sometimes fate knocks on the door to bring bad news, but individual stubbornness makes you push in with all the strength. "Hrútar" is a small film about the great truths in life. Over the years, one has found many paths, but each one has an end, and in the end only love is meaningful.

Image source: 1, 2