Iceland Is Best

Reading about how this movie was made - 35mm film, low-budget, etc. - it seems as if the technical and commercial challenges overshadowed the matter of creating a compelling story.

The central character, Sigga, is a young poet in search of a new life in California. Her attempts to escape from the limited, if beautiful, confines of Iceland encounter opposition from her parents and support from her friends. There is much soul-searching, wandering - somewhat aimlessly - from place , and wistful music. But the film lacks any substantial drive or momentum so that the experience is of watching someone drifting. And how it all ends is unclear.

There are some quirky - or irritating - features here too, such as the guy who follows Sigga everywhere carrying a canoe for no obvious reason (if there is a non-obvious reason it is never explained), and the repeated chiming of a few slightly discordant notes.

Even the Icelandic landscape is not really used to great effect. I was expecting some long, lingering wide shots that would underpin the action, but the trajectory of the story is too diffuse to enable this to work.

There seems to be a likeable and memorable movie hidden somewhere in Iceland is Best, but unfortunately it did not manage to emerge this time.

(Viewed at the Reghed Centre Cinema, Cumbria, UK 21 October 2021)

17 year old Sigga wants to leave her Icelandic home and move to California. Her friends want to join her, but she insists on going right away. This has a pretty girl on the cover and a standard indie premise. It is a mostly Iceland cast with a few Hollywood types in supporting roles.

First, there is the language. For a few minutes, I thought they were trying for a British accent. Then the Bjork-with-less-fairy accent do become noticeable. I would have preferred the Icelandic language instead and drop the Hollywood actors. It would give this indie more authenticity. As it stands, this is a lower grade Hollywood copy of an Icelandic indie. In addition to authenticity, there is also a need for better comedy. The movie tries like carrying the canoe around. It's funny-like work, but it's not actually funny. Quite frankly, it would matter less if they are speaking in a foreign language. Once they use English, the actors need better timing to do any jokes properly.

The general concept is fine. Sigga should show the audience her Icelandic world and when she leaves, she can feel the nostalgia for it. That's the proper story. This movie barely shows what Iceland is really like. The friends are just a bunch of non-descript kids. The most memorable thing is Judd Nelson having two jobs. He's able to sell the limited comedy there. I'm not sure who decided to make this movie in English. That was a mistake.

I've some time to chill and watch a movie in crowded activity, and i'm so regret to watch this worst movie! Really wasting my break time.

It's ok. An enjoyable film that's easy to watch, if a little unbelievable in places. There are some slightly surreal comedic elements throughout the film, in particular the canoe and the aunt.

Some of the minor characters are a little irritating and out of place (Tom Prior as Jack), but all of the main characters play their parts well. The character of Gunni (played by Atli Oskar Fjalarsson) was particularly likeable. Everybody needs a friend like Gunni - short on words, big on actions, dependable and there when you need him.

More could have been done in terms of scenery and landscapes. We see very little of this with most of the scenes taking place indoors.

Most of the dialogue takes place in English for no apparent reason other than the main character is going to California. It would have been nicer (and more believable) if more of the dialogue had been in Icelandic. But perhaps they were aiming for a broader market...

It tries a little too hard. While it doesn't completely fail, it doesn't really succeed either.

Overall, it's nice and strangely relaxing. While it probably won't win any awards, there are far worse offerings out there and it's a very pleasant way to spend 90 minutes.

Pointless film, couldn't even make it to the end, not even like it takes in some of the best sites of Iceland for someone spending their last days before supposedly heading off to California. Just 4 teens wandering about in and out of places led by the main moody 'deep in thought' actress in the lead role. Yawn...