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)

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...

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.

I strongly suspect the leading actress paid all the movie to make it happen.... totally pointless and not touching, sensation, funny about this movie. Iceland name being ruin...... the scene wasn't as beautiful as expect.

And it stars Judd Nelson?? From Breakfast Club???

I have to assume this is some kind of money laundering scheme or something????

Acting, terrible. Music, terrible. Cinematography, terrible. Writing? Lol.

????

And this is only the second movie (out of a total of TWO) in nearly 20 years coming from this director, whose first movie also seems to be of questionable and odd quality?? (Which also happens to randomly star another huge celebrity, Kate Winslet???)

This mystery is infinitely more interesting than anything happening in this so-called "movie"

Please someone let me know wtf is happening.