A new Icelandic film reaches UK cinemas in March, and Rob and Ellie travel back to the land of ice and fire to talk all things The Love That Remains.

Set in rural Iceland and shot in a similar way to Godland and A White, White Day, Hlynur Pálmason's latest is very different prospect. Lighter and more playful in tone but perhaps also a little more arty, The Love That Remains follows the lives of a fictional family over the course of a year after a divorce.

Starring Saga Garðarsdóttir (Woman at War) and Sverrir Gudnason (Northern Comfort, Borg McEnroe)as parents Anna and Magnus as well as the director's three children (NEST), The Love That Remains is sweet, funny and occasionally fantastical. Iceland looks as good as ever! And there is a very cute Icelandic sheepdog call Panda 🐶

It out in the UK now and here is the (inexhaustive) list of UK cinemas showing The Love That Remains:

Bristol Watershed – March 13th to 19th

Belfast Queen’s Film Theatre – 20th March – 26th March

Warwick Arts Centre - 20th March – 26th March

Tyneside Cinema – 18th March

London Garden Cinema - March 13th to 19th

Manchester HOME – From March 13th

London Lexi – March 27th to 31st

Plymouth Arts Cinema – March 27th to April 2nd

Dundee Contemporary Arts - March 27th to April 2nd

Edinburgh Filmhouse - March 13th to 19th

Film Theatre Glasgow – March 13th to 26th

And if you'd like to hear the English language version of the trailer we played at the start of the episode you can watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ0fdmesr-w

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

For their final discussion of the series, Rob and Ellie travel across continents and decades for a long-lost love story by Baltasar Kormákur.

Set in 1960s London and contemporary Iceland and Japan, Touch follows Kristófer as he searches for Miko, a Japanese girl who he loved when he spent time in London as a student, and who mysteriously disappeared one day.

With excellent performances from Egill Ólafsson, Yôko Narahashi, Palmi Kormákur and Japanese model Kōki, and beautifully shot and scored, this is a very subdued Kormákur film that sits in a rather different genre to much of his output discussed on the podcast so far.

Touch is available in to rent or buy physically and digitally in the UK now!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

This week Rob and Ellie contemplate the existence of draugar as they discuss recent release 'The Damned'.

Director Thordur Palsson's debut feature bears many of the hallmarks of a KVIKMYNDAPOD film with its setting of an isolated village in the Westfjords, gorgeous scenery and a chilling atmosphere, but this one is in the English language.

'The Damned', an ominous and bitter horror/thriller set in 19th century Iceland, follows Eva and her fishing crew as they come across a shipwreck and are faced with the moral dilemma to either help, or prioritise their own survival.

With a haunting score, brilliantly stark cinematography and cast of great British actors, this is a taut, tense and terrifying watch. Keep your eyes peeled for Rory McCann from 'Game of Thrones', Siobhan Finneran from 'Happy Valley', Joe Cole from 'Peaky Blinders' and the incredible Odessa Young from 'Assassination Nation'.

Available in UK cinemas right now!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Rob and Ellie travel to yet another remote Icelandic village and meet a whole host of villagers with stories to tell and dreams to dream in Elfar Aðalsteins' film adaptation of Jón Kalman Stefánsson's popular novel 'Summerlight...And Then Comes The Night'.

With a large ensemble cast of familiar faces including Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Svandís Dóra Einarsdóttir, Víkingur Kristjánsson, Þorsteinn Bachmann, Jóhann Sigurðarson and Heida Reed, 'Summerlight' explores the villagers' lives during the long summer days and the long winter nights.

A successful businessman gives it all up to teach astronomy in the local town hall, two farmers have an affair, a young man loses his father, and a couple spark up a romance. These are stories both specific and universal, and the film depicts them beautifully with incredible cinematography and gorgeous music.

Available to stream, rent and buy in the UK on Prime.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

In this week's minisode Rob and Ellie, together with guest Natalie Peck, head to Reykjavík, by way of the BFI London Film Festival!

In a non-spoiler discussion, they chat about the one Icelandic movie that had its UK premiere as part of the 2024 festival.

That film is 'When The Light Breaks' starring Elín Hall, directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson, not the Icelandic footballer who plays in goal for the national team, but the director of the wonderful 'Echo' which was discussed in an earlier series, and with music by Jóhann Jóhannsson.

The group also discuss a short film that recently dropped on Disney+, 'Fár' directed by Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter and with cinematography by Eli Arenson.

Natalie can be found on X @nataliepeck

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Rob and Ellie get their teeth sunk into an English-language Hollywood movie this week, as they follow big time Icelandic director (and actor) Baltasar Kormákur all the way to South Africa to witness Idris Elba punch a lion!

In 'Beast', Elba's Dr Nate Samuels takes his daughters on a pilgrimage to their recently deceased mother's village hoping it will bring the family closer together. Matters are complicated somewhat by a prowling lion hell-bent on revenge against the poachers who killed it's pride. Will the family survive and/or thrive? Take a guess! 

Also starring Sharlto Copley as ranger Martin Battles, Leah Jeffries and Ivana Halley as Norah and Meredith Samuels, 'Beast' is an action-packed creature feature thriller with plenty of tension and adventure!

Unlike any other Kormákur film covered on the podcast, this a fun change of pace and a fascinating look at how the director embraces another side of film-making. 'Beast' is now streaming on Netflix in the UK, and is available to rent or buy pretty much anywhere.

Music by Steven Price

Cinematography by Philippe Rousselot

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Rob and Ellie drop into your feeds to discuss a new football documentary - always striking while the iron is hot - titled 'The Home Game', or 'Heimaleikurinn'.

Directors Smari Gunn and Logi Sigursveinsson bring the story of Reynir FC to cinemas; 25 years after his father created a pitch in a small town in the west of Iceland and failed to get the local team to play a match on it, Kari picks up the mantle and sets out to put together another team to play an FA Cup match on the pitch! And not lose 10-0...

With great characters, surprising moments and an excellent score (pun intended) this feel-good underdog story demonstrates just how much community can mean and how sport can unite.

Available to stream in Iceland, Sweden and New Zealand, 'The Home Game' can also be spotted at festivals around the world and will be playing soon in UK cities. Keep an eye on the film's Instagram for the latest on screenings!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

In the final episode of series 6, Rob and Ellie are back in the capital for another film by one-man movie-making machine Baltasar Kormákur.

Anna, the daughter of heart surgeon Finnur, is addicted to drugs and madly in love with her dealer boyfriend and all round bad influence, Óttar. As her father, Finnur takes it into his hands  rid her of the bad boyfriend. But things don't quite go to plan.An Icelandic variation on the 'Taken'-style action and psychological thriller, 'The Oath', or 'Eiðurinn' from 2016 was written and directed by, and stars Baltasar Kormákur. It also stars series favourites Hera Hilmar and Gísli Örn Garðarsson and features other familiar faces too - Þorsteinn Bachmann, Ingvar Sigurðsson and Þorsteinn Gunnarsson.

Stunning cinematography by 'Driving Mum' director of photography Óttar Guðnason and a chilling cello score from Hildur Guðnadóttir also help to make this a particularly Icelandic form of Hollywood movie.

'The Oath' is available to rent or buy on Apple TV.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Episode five finds Rob and Ellie in the UK! But not for too long as this week's film follows a group of people with a fear of flying boarding an exposure flight to, you guessed it, Iceland!

Our Fearless Flyers include Sarah (played by Lydia Leonard), a competent business woman who wants to overcome her fear so she can go on holiday with her partner and his daughter; Edward (Timothy Spall), a popular writer and army veteran; Alfons (Sverrir Guðnason), a budding tech developer; and his partner Coco (Ella Rumpf) who needs Alfons to follow her around the world and take photos of her bum.

Much madness and uncomfortableness ensues and there's even room for Icelandic actors Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and Svandis Dora Einarsdottir, and English comedy actor Rob Delaney in a small but pivotal role.

Not only does it start in the UK, but 'Northern Comfort' is in English, so no subtitles! This is 'Under The Tree' director Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson's English-language debut and it recently dropped on Netflix in the UK.

Music by Daníel Bjarnason

Cinematography by Niels Thastum

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

For episode four, Rob and Ellie return to Reykjavík and the Nordic Noir genre for 2016's 'Cruelty', directed by Anton Sigurðsson.

When two young sisters are found murdered in the woods of a Reykjavík suburb, detectives Edda and Jói are called on to solve a case with few to no clues. But a long list of possible suspects...

Starring Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir and Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, this is a cold, bleak and grim crime thriller that exposes the world of sex offenders in Iceland.

Also starring Hannes Óli Ágústsson, Salóme Gunnarsdóttir, Helgi Björnsson, Pétur Óskar and Atli Rafn Sigurðsson.

Music by Kristján Sturla Bjarnason.

The film is available to rent or buy in the UK on Apple TV.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Episode three finds Rob and Ellie taking an eccentric road trip south from the Westfjords of Iceland with Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson's Jón and his deceased mother, played by Kristbjörg Kjeld!

Set in the 1980s, Hilmar Oddson's black and white comedy drama is an offbeat delight about a man coming to terms with what his life could have been and now could be. These revelations occur as he drives a beat up Ford Cortina across the unforgiving Icelandic terrain, bumps into some strange folk, and reminisces about a former lover (played by Hera Hilmar).

Nominated for a whole host of EDDA Awards in 2024 (the Icelandic Oscars), this film deserves all the acclaim it's getting, including for Tõnu Kõrvits' score and Óttar Guðnason's cinematography.

Released in the UK on the 1st March and travelling up and down the country throughout the coming months, 'Driving Mum' is one not to miss at your local indie cinema! A list of screenings can be found here.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

This week Rob and Ellie travel north to the remote area of Strandir in the Icelandic Westfjords for a romantic period piece.

In Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir's 'A Letter From Helga', or 'Svar við bréfi Helgu', farmers Bjarni and Helga (played beautifully by Thorvaldur Kristjansson and Hera Hilmar) begin a passionate affair as the rest of their small town whisper secrets to one another.

Emotions run high and big decisions need to be made while the rugged and wild landscapes of the north of Iceland serve as a backdrop to both characters' mental and physical journeys.

Based on a well-loved novel by Bergsveinn Birgisson, this was available to watch with English subtitles via the RUV website earlier in the year (here) so keep an eye out in case it returns!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

For episode one, Rob and Ellie invite you to a funny, stressful and cringe dinner party in Vesturbær.

Directed by Elsa Maria Jakobsdóttir, 'Wild Game' is one of over 20 country-specific adaptations of the Italian movie 'Perfetti sconosciuti', 'Perfect Strangers'. This version features an all star Icelandic cast including Anita Briem, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Þuríður Blær Jóhannsdóttir, Gísli Örn Garðarsson and Hilmar Guðjónsson. 

A group of close friends get together and their biggest secrets are revealed during a game involving their mobile phones. Could it be that someone is cheating? Or that another is hiding their true sexuality? These questions will be answered!

Available to watch with English subtitles via the RUV website until the 1st of March (here) this is an explosive start to the sixth series of Kvikmyndapod!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

It's that time again, and on this week's episode Rob and Ellie return to Reykjavík for a conspiracy thriller based on a book.

The film is Óskar Thór Axelsson's 'Operation Napoleon: Frozen Conspiracy', based on Arnaldur Indriðason's 1999 best-selling novel 'Operation Napoleon'. Starring Iain Glen, Vivian Ólafsdóttir, Jack Fox and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson this is a romp in the vein of the 'Indiana Jones' films but with glaciers, modern technology and an assassin who likes to use pencils...

With action, an actual historical conspiracy and a supporting cast that includes the landlady from 'Ted Lasso' and pod favourite Þröstur Leó, this is a fun Hollywood-style movie with breathtaking Icelandic landscapes actually portraying themselves! And it will be available in the UK to stream on demand from the 14th August.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

This week, for Rob and Ellie's fifth trip around the cinema of Iceland, they head back out to the countryside for some creepy goings on at a remote cabin... 

The film under discussion this week is Erlingur Thoroddsen’s ‘Rift’, or ‘Rokkur’ from 2017. Gunnar (Björn Stefánsson) and Einar (Sigurður Þór Óskarsson) get to grips with their fractured relationship amid some spooky situations in the middle of nowhere. Questions abound in this stunningly shot and brilliantly acted indie horror movie.

Available in the UK to rent or buy on Amazon or to stream on Flix Premiere or Revry.

Thank you to those who have supported the podcast so far by donating to us via ko-fi!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

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This week Rob and Ellie take another trip to south east Iceland just in time for the UK release of Hlynur Pálmason's Godland!

An incredibly shot epic about a Danish priest's mission to conquer a corner of Iceland and spread the word of God, this is film-making of the highest level.

Elliott Crosset Hove stars as Lucas, the Danish man of God who butts heads with Ingvar Sigurðsson's Ragnar, an Icelandic man very much of the land.

To see this film is to take in the majesty of the landscape and the complexities of a country once under the rule of another.

Available to watch in UK cinemas (including the Bristol Watershed) and on Curzon Home Cinema from 7th April, Godland is a stunning piece of work and features eerie music from Dirty Beaches' Alex Zhang Hungtai and magnificent cinematography once again from Maria von Hausswolff.

Also starring Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Vic Carmen Sonne and Jacob Lohmann.

Rob and Ellie also recently had a great time chatting about the non-Icelandic bonkers Jason Statham movie Crank on Flixwatcher podcast which you can listen to here: Crank!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Episode three finds Rob and Ellie back in Reykjavík for a psychological thriller from first time director Tinna Hrafnsdóttir, who also wrote the film based on a book by Auður Jónsdóttir.

'Quake', or 'Skjálfti' from 2021 tells the story of an author and mother named Saga who, after an epileptic seizure, experiences memory loss at the same time as hidden memories of family secrets begin to resurface.

With a brilliant central performance from Anita Briem, this is a cold, noir-ish look at how memory works, the cost of keeping secrets, and what it means to want to protect your family.

Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sveinn Geirsson and Jóhann Sigurðarson give great supporting turns as Saga's mostly well-meaning family, and Tómas Örn Tómasson's cinematography is suitably stark and beautiful.

'Quake' is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

The second episode of series 5 takes Rob and Ellie to 90s America for a 25-minute, Oscar-nominated coming-of-age animation called 'My Year of Dicks'!

Directed by Sara Gunnarsdóttir and written by American screenwriter and actress Pamela Ribon, the short film is split into five chapters, each one about young Pam's encounters with the boy's she hopes will fall in love with her and take her virginity.

Available to watch now at www.myyearofdicks.com, this a hilarious, heartfelt, super cringe and brilliantly animated exploration of what sex means to a teenage girl.

This exciting episode is split in two; the first half is a fun conversation with Sara herself (the first Icelandic female director to be nominated for an Oscar!), while in the second half Rob and Ellie discuss the film in detail.

Oh, and the brilliant end music is I Want it All by the brilliant Mr. Silla.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

It's series 5! And to kick things off for their fifth journey through the cinema of Iceland, Rob and Ellie are keeping things current with Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson's 'Beautiful Beings', or 'Berdreymi' from 2022!

Available to watch on demand from today, Guðmundsson's second feature film focuses on teenage boys once again, except this time in the city. Set in the Reykjavik suburbs, this film focuses on a group of boys and the violence that surrounds them as Addi, Konni and Siggi befriend the bullied Balli and the four of them navigate the brutal world of noughties teenagedom.

Starring a group of fantastic newcomers, as with 'Heartstone', as well as some stalwarts in Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and Anita Briem, this is a beautiful but brutal coming-of-age drama with a surprising supernatural element.

'Beautiful Beings' is not for the faint-of-heart, but is richly rewarding should you choose to press play; wonderful performances, stunning cinematography and an interesting look under the surface of suburbia.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

And gleðileg jól!

As a little Christmas gift, Rob and Ellie reconvened for a short chat about Christmas, Christmas films, Icelandic films and Icelandic Christmas.

This episode is mostly a general chat, however part of the discussion does revolve around a small scene from Grímur Hákonarson's 'Rams' or 'Hrútar' from 2015 - the very first film covered on the podcast. The scene timecode is 45:30 - 52:27 and the film is available on DVD and Blu-ray, as well to rent or buy on Apple TV, BFI Player and Chili. Or you can stream it for free at MUBI, where you can get 30 days free trial if you follow this link: www.mubi.com/kvikmyndapod

Merry Christmas and Rob and Ellie will be back in the New Year.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

And so another journey through the cinema of Iceland ends. For this final episode of series four, Rob and Ellie discuss the multi-narrative drama 'Life in a Fishbowl' from 2014.

Baldvin Z's second feature follows the lives of three Icelanders living in Reykjavik and the ways in which they influence each other, for better or worse. One is a single mother and occasional sex worker, one is an alcoholic writer, and the other is a footballer-turned-financial businessman.

Starring Þorsteinn Bachmann, Hera Hilmar and Thor Kristjansson, this is a look at the real Reykjavik, the side that tourists don't often see. At times hard-hitting and tough to watch, at others beautiful and heartwarming, it's no wonder this was the Number 1 film in Iceland the year it was released.

Rob and Ellie will return for a pre-Christmas special but in the meantime join us on social media and keep your eyes on your podcast feeds!

Thanks to all our listeners, new and old, and to everyone involved in the films we've covered!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

This week, Rob and Ellie return to Reykjavik and to the documentary format for Gaukur Úlfarsson's 'Gnarr', a film in which famous Icelandic comedian Jón Gnarr sets up a satirical political party and runs for Mayor of Reykjavík!

Over the course of four months Gnarr transforms from joke candidate to favourite, and his outlook and intentions change too...

The film can be found at dafilms.com.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

In this week's minisode Rob and Ellie journey, via Denmark, to the south east of Iceland, by way of the BFI London Film Festival!

In a non-spoiler discussion, they chat about the one Icelandic movie that was shown as part of the festival in 2022. One of only eight films in Official Competition!

GODLAND

Directed by Hlynur Pálmason

Written by Hlynur Pálmason

Starring Elliott Crosset Hove, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Vic Carmen Sonne, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir and Jacob Lohmann

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

And Happy Halloween!

To celebrate spooky season, Rob and Ellie bring together two recent Icelandic B-Movie horror-comedies.

First up is Elvar Gunnarsson’s trippy 'It Hatched' in which a baby is born from an egg laid by a human woman in a guesthouse in a remote fjord. If that doesn't sounds bonkers, then the rest of the film will do the convincing!

This is followed by comedy troupe Leikhópurinn X's 'Thirst’ or Þorsti from 2019, a film about a 1,000 year-old gay vampire and his unlikely friendship with a recovering drug user. It features buckets of blood and the most gore of any Icelandic film covered on the pod so far; probably of any Icelandic movie in fact!

So grab some beers and popcorn, get together with some mates, and settle in for a riotous B-movie double bill and then hear what Rob and Ellie have to say about these unique horror movies!

And keep your eyes peeled for Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Week two finds Rob and Ellie heading a third of the way round the country, from the south towards the Westfjords, for 'Rams' director Grímur Hákonarson's second feature film 'The County'.

Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir plays Inga, one half of a farming couple left to fight a local farming co-op for their bullying and shady keep-it-in-the-community tactics.

With true life story elements, calm and incredibly composed cinematography from Mart Taniel, and a complex central performance from Egilsdóttir, this is not just a rehash of elements seen before on the pod, but a fascinating look at how small communities may deal with the changing face of farming and commerce in Iceland.

Also starring Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Þorsteinn Bachmann and Hannes Óli Ágústsson.

Music by Valgeir Sigurðsson

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Rob and Ellie reconvene for a fourth go around the cinema of Iceland!

This week it's a return to the work of Baltasar Kormákur and his 2012 drama, based on real-life events, The Deep.

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson plays Gulli, a fisherman living on the island of Heimaey in the south of Iceland, whose boat capsizes. What happens next is a remarkable story of survival.

With some absolutely beautiful cinematography and great performances from the likes of Björn Thors, Jóhann G. Jóhannsson and Thora Bjorg Helga, this is an intriguing disaster drama.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Rob and Ellie return with a special episode all about something brand new and available to watch in the UK right now!

Director of 'A White, White Day', Hlynur Pálmason recently gave us a new short film titled 'NEST' (available on MUBI) about the building of a treehouse over the course of 18 months, and the daily interactions that his kids have with it.

For a 22-minute film this packs in all the emotion and is absolutely stunning to look at.

The first half of the podcast is a fascinating conversation with Hlynur himself, while in the second half Rob and Ellie discuss the film in detail.

If you haven't already, you can get a free 30-day trial of MUBI at www.mubi.com/kvikmyndapod.

The next series of the podcast will arrive later this year, so keep your eyes peeled!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

And so another journey through the cinema of Iceland ends. For this final episode of series three, Rob and Ellie discuss the beautiful 'Heartstone' from 2016.

Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson's debut feature is a coming-of-age drama set in the remote east of the country near the fishing village of Seyðisfjörður. Best friends Þór and Kristján negotiate their teenage emotions and sexual urges as one sets his sights on local girl Beta and the other on his best mate...

Sadly we end with a film that does not star Ingvar Sigurðsson, but the teen actors are all phenomenal (led by Baldur Einarsson and Blær Hinriksson) and some fantastic familiar faces complete the adult cast; Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Søren Malling and Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson.

Rob and Ellie will return...but in the meantime join us on social media and keep your eyes on your podcast feeds!

Thanks to all our listeners, new and old, for an amazing first year as a podcast!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

It's the penultimate week of Rob and Ellie's third journey round Iceland and this time they're in Svarthamar in the Westfjords for a rural tale of grief and a unique way of dealing with it - Metal music!

Director Ragnar Bragason's 'Metalhead' stars Thora Bjorg Helga as Hera, a young lady who witnesses her brother's death and finds solace in the music of the bands he loved - Judas Priest, Megadeth, Teaze etc.

With a soundtrack unlike any heard before on the podcast, these unusual elements come together brilliantly as Hera and her parents finally find a way through their guilt and grief. 

Also starring Ingvar Sigurðsson, Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir and Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Having seen plenty of sheep over the course of this podcast, it's the turn of the great Icelandic horse this week, as Rob and Ellie travel out into the wilds once again for a darkly comic tale of love, death, and the relationship between man and beast.

Director Benedikt Erlingsson's feature debut 'Of Horses and Men' is a series of beautifully shot interconnected vignettes that demonstrate just how integral horses are to rural Icelandic life.

Ingvar Sigurðsson provides the central performance as a man completely in love with his new mare, for whom things don't quite work out. What follows includes horses swimming for alcohol, tractor chases and a surprising amount of death, both human and animal.

This is by turns fun, funny and tragic. But ultimately triumphant.

Next week's film, 'Metalhead, can be found on PantaFlix, the Sky Store or for free here.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Week three of series three finds Rob and Ellie almost back on terra firma in Iceland - with just a little trip to the Netherlands to score some booze!

One of the more mainstream, 'Hollywood' efforts to come out of Iceland in the 2000s, Óskar Jónasson's 'Reykjavik-Rotterdam' re-teams Baltasar Kormákur with Ingvar Sigurðsson and Arnaldur Indriðason for a sort-of heist thriller about a former criminal doing ONE LAST JOB!

With a bunch of familiar faces (including Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), plenty of tension and some very funny moments, it's no wonder this was remade in the US with Mark Wahlberg.

Grab the popcorn and enjoy!

And don't forget to check out Magnús Jónsson's TAKA 5.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

The next leg of Rob and Ellie's journey takes them away from Iceland to the exotic mountain jungles of Nepal!

Kvikmyndapod is leaving the country of Iceland behind for the first time, for 'The Hero's Journey to the Third Pole' in which Andri Snær Magnason and Anní Ólafsdóttir artfully document the efforts of Anna Tara Edwards and musician Högni to put on a concert to raise awareness of bipolar disorder, and mental illness more generally, in Nepal.

Featuring elephants, mountains, unbelievable stories, and insight into the experiences of those living with bipolar disorder, this is a fascinating documentary with some great music!

Click here to watch 'Apausalypse' 

Click here to watch 'Among the Living' by Markéta Irglová, feat. Siggi String Quartet & Aida Shahghasemi

Click here to watch Árstíðir sing the Icelandic hymn Heyr himna smiður at a train station train station

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Welcome to the Official Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson podcast...

Or rather, thanks for catching up with Rob and Ellie as they journey round the 'Land of Ice and Fire' for a third time!

Series 3 of Kvikmyndapod kicks off with one of, if not THE biggest Icelandic film of the 21st century; LAMB.

A Cannes award-winner co-written by Sjón with the film's director Valdimar Jóhannsson, LAMB takes place in the eerily familiar setting (to regular listeners!) of a remote farm deep in the Icelandic countryside. However, the story is anything but familiar...

A supernatural folk-tale with a horror tinge, this is an atmospheric slow burn with WTF moments to stun and scare. Starring Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and a character unlike any you will have seen before, LAMB is the perfect film to send the pod back to Iceland.

LAMB is currently available to watch on MUBI and Kvikmyndapod listeners can get a free 30-day trial by clicking here: FREE ICELANDIC MOVIES

Thanks to MUBI's 'Land of Fire and Ice' collection you can also catch up with other fantastic films already covered on the podcast; 'Under the Tree', 'Rams' and 'Echo'.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

It's the end of series two!

And the final trip on Rob and Ellie's second journey takes them to the Reykjanes Peninsula for a drama focused on two women from different backgrounds learning how they can help each other.

Ísold Uggadóttir's debut feature is a beautifully stark look at immigration and the struggle to lead a normal life.

Starring Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir, Babetida Sadjo and Patrik Nökkvi Pétursson, with cinematography by Ita Zbroniec-Zajt, 'And Breathe Normally' is a stunning film.

Thanks for listening to series two!

Nordic Watchlist

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

For their penultimate trip this series, Rob and Ellie journey to the south-east of Iceland to find Ingvar Sigurðsson playing a very different kind of police officer character to Detective Erlendur.

Writer-director Hlynur Pálmason's second feature film, A White, White Day, from 2019, depicts a man named Ingimundur trying to hold himself together after the death of his wife while also supporting his daughter and her family. But after finding some books and a photograph, he begins to spiral.

This is a stark look at grief through a more arthouse lens than previously seen on Kvikmyndapod, but it is an astonishing film with brilliant performances and a unique style.

Also starring Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Björn Ingi Hilmarsson, Elma Stefania Agustsdóttir, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Laufey Elíasdóttir, Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir and Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir.

Cinematography by Maria von Hausswolff

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

It's Halloween and another BONUS episode!

In the first all-out horror film discussed on the podcast, Rob and Ellie, plus very special guest Mike Muncer from the Evolution of Horror podcast, hit the water in the fjords near Reykjavík for Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre.

Directed by Júlíus Kemp and written by Sjón this is a film that knows its horror touchstones, specifically The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Whether or not it lives up to the Tobe Hooper classic is very much up for discussion!

Expect awful people dying in bloody and gory ways with some humour thrown in for good measure.

Starring Pihla Viitala, Nae, Helgi Björnsson, Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir and Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen!

Mike's podcast can be found here: The Evolution of Horror

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

In this BONUS episode Rob and Ellie journey to the remote countryside of northern Iceland as well as the 'big' city of Reykjavík by way of the BFI London Film Festival!

In a non-spoiler discussion, they chat about the two rather different Icelandic movies that were shown as part of the festival in 2021.

LAMB

Directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson

Written by Sjón and Valdimar Jóhannsson

Starring Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Guðnason and Björn Hlynur Haraldsson

Cop Secret

Directed by Hannes Þór Halldórsson

Written by Auðunn Blöndal, Egill Einarsson and Hannes Þór Halldórsson

Starring Auðunn Blöndal, Egill Einarsson, Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir and Björn Hlynur Haraldsson

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Things get musical in week four of Rob and Ellie's second journey through the films of Iceland. 

Subtitled 'The Basement Tapes of Sigríður Níelsdóttir', this documentary sheds light on the wonderful low-key musical life of a 70-year old lady living in a basement flat in Reykjavik.

Charming and sweet, 'Grandma Lo-Fi' shows how Sigríður made her music and explores the influence she had on the Icelandic music scene.

Directed by Jónsi's sister in collaboration with others, this film also features contributions from FM Belfast, Múm and Hildur Guðnadóttir.

It can be watched here - Grandma Lo-Fi

And Rob’s interview with Nordic Watchlist can be read here - Interview!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

For the third week of Rob and Ellie's second journey through Icelandic cinema, they remain in the Westfjords. And this time it's even colder!

Starring 'X-Men' alumnus Tómas Lemarquis as the title character, 'Nói albinói' is a strange indie comedy-drama about a disenchanted teenager who wants (and needs) to escape his isolated Icelandic town.

The question on everybody's lips is "is he super intelligent? or is he the opposite?" That's for the audience to decide after a trip around the town where Nói meets a girl, digs a grave and attempts to hold a bank teller hostage!

Dagur Kári's debut film also features the familiar Icelandic actors Þorsteinn Gunnarsson and Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson as well as noted artist Elín Hansdóttir in an early acting role.

----more----

Next week's film can be found here

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

The next leg of Rob and Ellie's journey takes them to the breathtaking yet creepy af Westfjords of Iceland.

Adapted from the novel by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Óskar Thór Axelsson's movie version of 'I Remember You' combines the classic Scandi noir with the ghost story.

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson plays Freyr, a father looking for answers surrounding his son's disappearance. Working with the police to help solve a series of murders his story becomes entwined with three friends attempting to renovate a possibly haunted guesthouse in a very remote town.

Also starring Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir, Elma Stefanía Ágústsdóttir and Thor Kristjansson this is the perfect story as the Autumn settles in and the days grow darker...

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

And welcome back to Kvikmyndapod. Rob and Ellie return for series 2 just in time for Autumn!

In this first episode of the new series they explore contemporary political issues by looking at Benedikt Erlingsson's award-winning eco comedy-drama!

Halla, a middle-aged choir teacher takes action against the heavy industry of Iceland, careening around the spectacular countryside sabotaging electricity pylons while evading police helicopters and drones.

This action is all soundtracked by a fantastic three-piece band (complete with sousaphone) and a Ukrainian choir!

There are no films quite like this one.

Starring Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, plenty of familiar faces appearing in cameo roles, and music by Davíð Þór Jónsson, Woman At War is a bombastic way to start series 2!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Journey one is over, so Rob and Ellie have a quick catch up about what they've learned from, and enjoyed about, the first six films covered on the pod.

And say a big thank you to everyone has been listening!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

And so on the summer solstice Rob and Ellie celebrate the final leg of their first journey through Icelandic cinema with some sun-based neighbour rage!

In the suburbs of Reykjavík, things heat up between two families as a garden tree prevents some sun-bathing.

It may not sound like much, but this is cause for some of the most outrageous drama seen this series!

Starring some familiar faces (Þorsteinn Bachmann, Lára Jóhanna Jónsdóttir and Sigurður Sigurjónsson), some deeply dark humour, and no snow AT ALL (!), this is Fargo levels of spiralling...

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

This week, at the height of summer, Rob and Ellie celebrate Christmas and New Year in Iceland with Rúnar Rúnarsson's Echo!

A beguiling and emotional series of real and staged vignettes exploring the many experiences of the Icelandic festive season.

There's the oldies aqua aerobics, a New Year's birth, a particularly awkward meeting between half-sisters, beer theft, and many more scenes running the gamut of emotions and specifically Icelandic traditions.

It'll melt your heart (if the summer heat hasn't already).

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

For the fourth leg of their journey through Icelandic cinema, Rob and Ellie hitch a ride out of the capital with the police to investigate a murder that reveals a whole bunch of secrets closely related to the people and the history of the country.

6 years and 2 films after 101 Reykjavik, Baltasar Kormákur adapted an Icelandic crime novel by the incredibly popular Arnaldur Indriðason. Jar City is classic Scandi-noir story with a very specifically Icelandic subject at its centre.

Starring Rob's fave Ingvar E. Sigurðsson as Detective Erlendur, buckle up for a captivating and COLD thriller!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

In the third film discussion on their Icelandic cinema journey, Rob and Ellie stay put in Reykjavík for a stunning but tough look at the lives of drug-addicted teens in the capital.

Baldvin Z's Let Me Fall takes universal modern issues and focuses on how they play out in contemporary Iceland, bringing in local stories such as the cases from the mid-2000s known as 'týndu stúlkurnar', or 'lost girls'.

With fantastic performances, a killer soundtrack featuring Hatari and a score by Ólafur Arnalds, and swoonsome visuals, this is a modern classic!

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

The second leg of Rob and Ellie's journey through the cinema of Iceland finds them in the capital city, for powerhouse director Baltasar Kormákur's debut film, 101 Reykjavík.

The first Icelandic film of the 21st century sets the buzzing, drunken nightlife of the capital against the wilderness and solitary life to be found in the rest of the country.

With music by Damon Albarn and a new way of approaching Icelandic stories, Everest and 2 Guns director Kormákur presents a 'cool' look at modern-day Iceland (in the year 2000!)

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

In the first film discussion on their journey through Icelandic cinema, Rob and Ellie take a look at possibly the biggest crossover hit, Grímur Hákonarson’s darkly comic drama Rams.

Expect chat about sheep, knitwear, sibling rivalry and what it means to be a farmer in 21st century Iceland. And there's a dog too!

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Read Rob's blog post about Rams and another Icelandic comedy, Of Horses & Men here.

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)

Welcome to Kvikmyndapod: An Icelandic Cinema Podcast.

In this short intro episode Rob and Ellie discuss their knowledge of Iceland and its films (and pronunciations!) and look forward to the upcoming series. 

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('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)