Kvikmyndapod: An Icelandic Cinema Podcast

Halló! For their final discussion of the series, Rob and Ellie travel across continents and decades for a long-lost love story by Baltasar Kormákur. Set in 1960s London and contemporary Iceland and Japan, Touch follows Kristófer as he searches for Miko, a Japanese girl who he loved when he spent time in London as a student, and who mysteriously disappeared one day. With excellent performances from Egill Ólafsson, Yôko Narahashi, Palmi Kormákur and Japanese model Kōki, and beautifully shot and scored, this is a very subdued Kormákur film that sits in a rather different genre to much of his output discussed on the podcast so far. Touch is available in to rent or buy physically and digitally in the UK now!   Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0zwEyRjIH8KVKGN1sc2n4I?si=b3abb2df6e0f4b1c] and Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kvikmyndapod-an-icelandic-cinema-podcast/id1566211280] and Follow us on Instagram kvikmyndapod [https://www.instagram.com/kvikmyndapod/] Bluesky @KVIKMYNDAPOD [https://bsky.app/profile/kvikmyndapod.bsky.social] Join in the conversation on Discord And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee [https://ko-fi.com/kvikmyndapod]! Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace [https://www.instagram.com/justahappyspace/])   Music by Branches Bare ('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open [https://branchesbare.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-origami-folds-of-night-your-rip-the-seam-of-sleep-wide-open-ep-2008])

Halló! This week Rob and Ellie contemplate the existence of draugar as they discuss recent release 'The Damned'. Director Thordur Palsson's debut feature bears many of the hallmarks of a KVIKMYNDAPOD film with its setting of an isolated village in the Westfjords, gorgeous scenery and a chilling atmosphere, but this one is in the English language. 'The Damned', an ominous and bitter horror/thriller set in 19th century Iceland, follows Eva and her fishing crew as they come across a shipwreck and are faced with the moral dilemma to either help, or prioritise their own survival. With a haunting score, brilliantly stark cinematography and cast of great British actors, this is a taut, tense and terrifying watch. Keep your eyes peeled for Rory McCann from 'Game of Thrones', Siobhan Finneran from 'Happy Valley', Joe Cole from 'Peaky Blinders' and the incredible Odessa Young from 'Assassination Nation'. Available in UK cinemas right now!   Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0zwEyRjIH8KVKGN1sc2n4I?si=b3abb2df6e0f4b1c] and Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kvikmyndapod-an-icelandic-cinema-podcast/id1566211280] and Follow us on Instagram kvikmyndapod [https://www.instagram.com/kvikmyndapod/] Bluesky @KVIKMYNDAPOD [https://bsky.app/profile/kvikmyndapod.bsky.social] Join in the conversation on Discord And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee [https://ko-fi.com/kvikmyndapod]!   Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace [https://www.instagram.com/justahappyspace/])   Music by Branches Bare ('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open [https://branchesbare.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-origami-folds-of-night-your-rip-the-seam-of-sleep-wide-open-ep-2008])

Halló! Rob and Ellie travel to yet another remote Icelandic village and meet a whole host of villagers with stories to tell and dreams to dream in Elfar Aðalsteins' film adaptation of Jón Kalman Stefánsson's popular novel 'Summerlight...And Then Comes The Night'. With a large ensemble cast of familiar faces including Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Svandís Dóra Einarsdóttir, Víkingur Kristjánsson, Þorsteinn Bachmann, Jóhann Sigurðarson and Heida Reed, 'Summerlight' explores the villagers' lives during the long summer days and the long winter nights. A successful businessman gives it all up to teach astronomy in the local town hall, two farmers have an affair, a young man loses his father, and a couple spark up a romance. These are stories both specific and universal, and the film depicts them beautifully with incredible cinematography and gorgeous music. Available to stream, rent and buy in the UK on Prime.   Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0zwEyRjIH8KVKGN1sc2n4I?si=b3abb2df6e0f4b1c] and Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kvikmyndapod-an-icelandic-cinema-podcast/id1566211280] and Follow us on Instagram kvikmyndapod [https://www.instagram.com/kvikmyndapod/]  Bluesky @kvikmyndapod.bsky.social [https://app.bsky.cz/profile/kvikmyndapod.bsky.social] Threads @kvikmyndapod [https://www.threads.net/@kvikmyndapod] Join in the conversation on Discord And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee [https://ko-fi.com/kvikmyndapod]!   Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace [https://www.instagram.com/justahappyspace/])   Music by Branches Bare ('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open [https://branchesbare.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-origami-folds-of-night-your-rip-the-seam-of-sleep-wide-open-ep-2008])

Halló! In this week's minisode Rob and Ellie, together with guest Natalie Peck, head to Reykjavík, by way of the BFI London Film Festival! In a non-spoiler discussion, they chat about the one Icelandic movie that had its UK premiere as part of the 2024 festival. That film is 'When The Light Breaks' starring Elín Hall, directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson, not the Icelandic footballer who plays in goal for the national team, but the director of the wonderful 'Echo' which was discussed in an earlier series, and with music by Jóhann Jóhannsson. The group also discuss a short film that recently dropped on Disney+, 'Fár' directed by Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter and with cinematography by Eli Arenson.   Natalie can be found on X @nataliepeck [https://x.com/nataliepeck] Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0zwEyRjIH8KVKGN1sc2n4I?si=b3abb2df6e0f4b1c] and Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kvikmyndapod-an-icelandic-cinema-podcast/id1566211280] and Follow us on Instagram kvikmyndapod [https://www.instagram.com/kvikmyndapod/]  X @KVIKMYNDAPOD [https://twitter.com/KVIKMYNDAPOD] Threads @kvikmyndapod [https://www.threads.net/@kvikmyndapod] Join in the conversation on Discord And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee [https://ko-fi.com/kvikmyndapod]!   Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace [https://www.instagram.com/justahappyspace/])   Music by Branches Bare ('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open [https://branchesbare.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-origami-folds-of-night-your-rip-the-seam-of-sleep-wide-open-ep-2008])

Halló! Rob and Ellie get their teeth sunk into an English-language Hollywood movie this week, as they follow big time Icelandic director (and actor) Baltasar Kormákur all the way to South Africa to witness Idris Elba punch a lion! In 'Beast', Elba's Dr Nate Samuels takes his daughters on a pilgrimage to their recently deceased mother's village hoping it will bring the family closer together. Matters are complicated somewhat by a prowling lion hell-bent on revenge against the poachers who killed it's pride. Will the family survive and/or thrive? Take a guess!  Also starring Sharlto Copley as ranger Martin Battles, Leah Jeffries and Ivana Halley as Norah and Meredith Samuels, 'Beast' is an action-packed creature feature thriller with plenty of tension and adventure! Unlike any other Kormákur film covered on the podcast, this a fun change of pace and a fascinating look at how the director embraces another side of film-making. 'Beast' is now streaming on Netflix in the UK, and is available to rent or buy pretty much anywhere. Music by Steven Price Cinematography by Philippe Rousselot   Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0zwEyRjIH8KVKGN1sc2n4I?si=b3abb2df6e0f4b1c] and Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/kvikmyndapod-an-icelandic-cinema-podcast/id1566211280] and Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD [https://twitter.com/KVIKMYNDAPOD] Instagram kvikmyndapod [https://www.instagram.com/kvikmyndapod/]  Threads @kvikmyndapod [https://www.threads.net/@kvikmyndapod] Join in the conversation on Discord And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee [https://ko-fi.com/kvikmyndapod]!   Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace [https://www.instagram.com/justahappyspace/])   Music by Branches Bare ('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open [https://branchesbare.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-origami-folds-of-night-your-rip-the-seam-of-sleep-wide-open-ep-2008])