1913. A remote island in the middle of the roaring Atlantic hosts a wedding. The beautiful Sirsa has decided to try and forget her true love, the wild and romantic Ivar, choosing instead to marry Harald, son of the most important family on the island. While Ivar and Harald battle for Sirsa's affection, the colorful assortment of guests dance the rhythmic and hypnotic Faroese dance, only breaking from their merriment for a shipwreck, looters, a close encounter with the devil and the disappearance of the bride.
Original title: Dansinn
Genre: Drama
Language: Icelandic
Director: Ágúst Guðmundsson
Scriptwriters: Ágúst Guðmundsson, Kristín Atladóttir, based on a short story by William Heinesen ("Her skal danses")
Main cast: Gunnar Helgason, Pálína Jónsdóttir, Baldur Trausti Hreinsson, Dofri Hermannsson, Gísli Halldórsson, Kristína Sundar Hanssen
Cinematographer: Ernest Vincze
Editor: Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, Valdís Óskarsdóttir
Music: Jürgen Peukert, Kai Dorenkamp, Reiner Grünebaum
Production design: Halldór Þorgeirsson
Producers: Andy Paterson, Oxford Film Company, Ágúst Guðmundsson, Ísfilm ehf, Dschingis Bowakow, Hamburger Kino Kompanie, Erik Crone, Nordisk Film Productions
Script supported by the European Script Fund.
Production supported by British Screen, Icelandic Fim Fund, Nordic Film & TV Fund, Eurimages and FilmFörderung Hamburg.
Sound: Dolby Digital
Length: 87 min
Screening format: 35mm Colour
Production format: 35 mm
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Premiere date and year: September 2, 1998
International premiere: Toronto, September 1998
Awards
• Festroia International Film Festival, Portugal 1999: Awarded the Silver Dolphin - Best Cinematography. Nominated for Golden Dolphin (Director Ágúst Guðmundsson)
• Moscow International Film Festival 1999: Won Best director (Silver St. George), Ágúst Guðmundsson. Nominated for Golden St. George.
• Amanda Awards Norway 1999. Nominated for Best Nordic Feature Film (Nordisk Amanda)
• Edda Awards, Iceland 1999: Won for Costume design (Þórunn María Jónsdóttir).
Nominated as Best film, Actor of the year (Dofri Hermannsson) and Director of the
year (Ágúst Guðmundsson)
From a review:
Gudmundsson, whose early-1980s films “Land and Sons” and “The Outlaw” were bellwethers of an emerging Icelandic cinema, returns to film after a decade-long absence. There's maturity to his work, a controlled story sensibility, and one feels at ease in such capable hands. Helmer’s graceful, precise style contrasts sharply with the howling winds and fierce rains that pummel the characters.
Tech credits are richly hued and amplified by a haunting score that incorporates traditional folk music. The cast is vividly drawn, down to the tiniest part. Jonsdottir is a sensuous presence, while those who play her suitors ably convey contrasting lifestyles but a humanity cut from the same bolt of cloth.
Leonard Klady, Variety
