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)

It's just really weird, story makes no sense and the acting is terrible. I thought this was a comedy but turns out it's not supposed to be funny and that it should be taken seriously. It's like The Room but that film was at least enjoyable where this film lacks any charisma. Stay away (unless you like terrible films)

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'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.

Worst movie I've ever watched. It's sad to think that so many people put their effort, time and money into a movie just to produce something so ridiculously bad.