„Þegar upp er staðið er mynd Gríms áhrifamikil saga um uppreisn í lokuðu samfélagi sem stendur fyrir öll undirokuð samfélög,“ segir Davide Abbatescianni í Cineuropa um Héraðið Gríms Hákonarsonar.
Abbatescianni skrifar meðal annars:
All in all, Hákonarson’s film is a powerful tale of rebellion, set in a closed-off society that serves as a metaphor for all oppressed communities.
We accompany an atypical hero, masterfully portrayed by actress Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir. Her character is calm and stoic, and is seeking justice with a huge degree of willpower. Inga will use her resourcefulness to break free from the cooperative’s grasp; the death of her husband constitutes a breaking point and is a great plot device to prompt the character’s transformation. In general, the film’s acting and dialogues are dry and concise: not only does this keep the viewer hooked, but it also leaves room for the actors to breathe life into their non-verbal actions portrayed on screen.
Veteran thesp Sigurður Sigurjónsson is also a great choice for his role as the head of the cooperative: the character is rather complex and difficult to gauge, as his words and actions go way beyond the classical good/evil dichotomy. His staid, restrained attitude acts as an impenetrable barrier that hinders other characters – and perhaps the viewers, too – from establishing any real contact with his soul. The entire film is imbued with a gentle, subtle irony, which at times lightens the mood, but also reminds us that, after all, we are just observing the life of a small farming community: nothing more, nothing less.
Furthermore, the cinematography, entrusted to Estonian DoP Mart Taniel (The Man Who Surprised Everyone , November ), superbly reflects the inner life of Inga through the way in which the surrounding landscapes, the weather and the interiors are represented. All in all, Hákonarson’s film is a powerful tale of rebellion, set in a closed-off society that serves as a metaphor for all oppressed communities. It also contains an intrinsic criticism of corruption, capitalism and monopolies. It works well because it is not full of superfluous speeches or diatribes, or indeed any obvious references at all. Even though it tackles these issues within the specific context of rural Iceland, their universal repercussions can easily be appreciated, as the community here acts as a shining example representing any of the world’s remotest, most conservative areas, where the real power is usually in the hands of a few influential people.
Sjá nánar hér: Review: The County – Cineuropa
