IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The story of families living in barracks left by the US Army in Reykjavik at the conclusion of World War II.The story of families living in barracks left by the US Army in Reykjavik at the conclusion of World War II.The story of families living in barracks left by the US Army in Reykjavik at the conclusion of World War II.
- Awards
- 5 wins & 3 nominations total
Ingvar Sigurdsson
- Grjóni
- (as Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson)
Featured reviews
This film features a lot of drinking, a lot of shouting and a lot of fighting! But this isn't enough to make it a good film. I never cared about the people in the story.
A very dark comedy dealing with people living in abandoned US barracks in Iceland. The characters apparently were based on real people but really, they could be characters that we know in our own parts of the world, making the point that we are all part of the human race with our foibles and idiosyncrasies. Yes, it was in the Icelandic language; yes, you likely had to read sub-titles. But for anyone interested in serious film, this would be no hindrance. This film puts to shame the overwhelming majority of films made in the USA these days which seem to be dumbing down even more each year. This is a film about life, covering a wide range from comedy to tragedy, but always thought-provoking and involving.
This movie is really good. At least it's better than the book although many people would disagree with me there. To enjoy this film more than some have been doing you'll have to know what situation the people are in. The movie is based on the Icelandic lives at that time. I think it's a great movie but not the best Icelandic movie i've seen.
If I would see some film that is identical to this one from another country with another culture I would not enjoy it as much. For example if there were a movie about someone in Britain and I would not know the situation the people would be in I wouldn't understand the story in the film.
I recommend to everybody who can read the book to read it before or after you see this film. In the book you can see the storyline much better and you'll know why this is a really good movie.
If I would see some film that is identical to this one from another country with another culture I would not enjoy it as much. For example if there were a movie about someone in Britain and I would not know the situation the people would be in I wouldn't understand the story in the film.
I recommend to everybody who can read the book to read it before or after you see this film. In the book you can see the storyline much better and you'll know why this is a really good movie.
Alright so I may be biased since I played "Dick" in the movie (2 lines, Woo Hoo!!) but I definitely liked it. Although the characters sometimes seemed like caricatures you have to remember that they were trying to distill an entire nation's attitudes down into a few people. The movie is not exactly uplifting but it is well done. The acting is quality and Fridrik Thor's directing is on par with his Oscar nominated "Children of Nature."
See this film. It is well-filmed, spoken in a funny language, and simply catches you from the beginning to the end. See how the American Dream is dreamt in a desolate place under different circumstances. All filming perspectives here are pieces of art.
Did you know
- TriviaThe Elvis tribute band was initially not supposed to be in the movie at all, but when attempting to get clearances to use the original recordings proved far more expensive than anyone had expected, a group of professional, Icelandic session musicians were hastily hired to provide the incidental numbers. So the "band" that features in the film is not comprised of actors but of real musicians, really performing.
- GoofsWhen Baddi drives his car from the airport after staying at his mother in the USA, another person is seen in his car, though he apparently comes back alone.
- ConnectionsReferences La Mauvaise Graine (1956)
- SoundtracksAll Shook Up
Written by Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Devil's Island
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- ISK 200,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,814
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,814
- Mar 14, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $5,814
- Runtime
- 1h 39m(99 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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