101 Reykjavík

101 Reykjavik blowed my mind off when I saw it. Mine, who's lived in Iceland, spent (too!) much time in 101 Reykjavik and seen it all. It's so real that it's a bit scary; life really can be like that in Reykjavik. I'd recommend this film to someone who's interested in the Icelandic way of living and doesn't get shocked too easily! To make the experience deeper and fuller, also read the book! It's shockingly thick but worth every word in it.

I have been living in Iceland for a year and a half and got a picture of the country, its people and its capital, Reykjavík (I actually even lived in the 101 postal code in Reykjavík). This movie is really highlighting a type of persons that I have met quite often in Iceland. I think it is a clear and accurate picture of an important part of the young population. The main actor, Hilmir Snær Guðnason (Hlynur), is really expressing this disillusion that you can feel while enjoying Reykjavík's night life. If you want to go to this marvelous country or if you just interested how one can survived after a few months winter night, this is the movie to go watching. But do not worry, there is more than that in Iceland.

This more or less seems to become a new trend: European countries – not particularly known for their rich history in film-making – surprise the world with semi-artistic movies telling us how boring life is in this particular country. F*cking Amal did so for Sweden…and 101 Reykjavik represents Iceland's pride and joy. I really like the lackadaisical tone of this film and especially the main character Hlynur is great! I love these Icelandic names, by the way…and the language is lovely! Anyway, Hlynur is a 30 something single man who gives cigarettes to 4-year-olds and daydreams about butchering his closest relatives with a shotgun…on Christmas day! He still lives with his mother while he already looks forward to drawing a pension. Oh, he also occasionally bangs his mother's Flamenco dance-teacher. Her name is Lola and every time her name is mentioned the song by The Kinks can be heard on a harmonica, which is rather funny. Anyway, Hlynur doesn't know that Lola is the lesbian toygirl of his mother…Just your typical day in 101 Reykjavik.

101 Reykjavik is very funny, only because the main character is such a loser! And everybody knows is a lot more interesting to observe a loser instead of a fake action hero, right? The different subjects handled in this film all may look very controversial, but the terrific use of black humor and satire makes it a lot easier to digest. And, it must be said, the film features a few extremely ingenious findings! In a brilliantly comical scene, Hlynur irritates a traffic warden by putting extra coins in every parking meter so that he can't write a single ticket. I'd certainly recommend this film, as long as you're not expecting an authentic masterpiece. It's clever, creative and filled with nudity (male and female). If they made one lesson clear with this movie, it's: don't ever settle in Iceland!

This is one of the funniest movies I watched recently. A 30 years old guy, still living with his mother, refusing to get a job and quite retarded in regard to any relation with the opposite sex, runs into one crazy situation after the other, and his complete disability to handle them simply makes you scream out laughing. Yet, the humour in the movie is not of the dumb slapstick or nonsense kind, but, with some exceptions, actually quite intelligent, as social issues like sexual orientation, identity and general problems of way of living are dealt with. The spanish girl, as an intruder in the rather decadent and boring scenario of small Reykjavik, raises questions and perturbs the world of the small family perfectly by first seducing the son and then the mother, though unwillingly. Great acting. If this movie had a broader audience, it could really have become a big hit; now it encants only a limited number of spectators with its (very un-nordic) warm, easy and comfortable atmosphere and leaves you very satisfied. Big recommendation!

I saw the film 101Reykjavik during one of my sessions as a projectionist at a movie theater in Helsingborg. I had no previous knowledge of the film neither had I heard anything about it, but boy was I in for a treat.

Although the movie seems incomplete story wise, the characters and the dialog is superb and some of the plot twists make you fall out of the chair in laughter. So despite the lack in story development the overall experience is great. The music (by among others Damon Albarn) compliments the pictures wonderfully with its playful themes of the old classic "Lola". It is really a variation of the old "Slacker" theme but it is done without any moral judgement on the characters. Some people aren't ment to become important and some are. Hlynur (the protagonist) is constantly torn between his selfconscious criticism of the world and the inevitable fact that he has to live in it and he gets by as best as he can. Would the story had been allowed to develop even further the movie would have been the ultimate voice of the "Slacker" generation but since it falls short the best one can do is just take it for what it is and enjoy.

I would warmly recommend the movie to everyone under 35, the older generations might want to check out something else.