The Europeans seem to specialize in weird, offbeat movie themes and this one is no exception. The plot might be controversial: a lazy geek living off state unemployment money in Reykjavik Iceland impregnates a hotblooded Spanish flamenco instructor who then turns out to be his mother's lesbian lover. Trouble ensues... However the movie manages to portray this as just another twist in family history without preaching the gay gospel or condemning it as yet another sign of the times involving hell and a handbasket.
Victoria Abril (of Pedro Almodovar fame) is well cast as the temptress of mother and son (giving him a son and a brother in one fell sweep), but the rest of the cast is Icelandic and unknown to me although they are obviously experienced according to IMDb. "Newcomer" Hilmir Snaer Gudnason deserves special mention as the leading male, a difficult part as the character goes from a thin version of Ignatius J Reilly (Conderacy of Dunces) to a pretty nice guy without the changes being very noticeable.
This is a black comedy dealing with unusual themes, but it works as the humor strikes home in a dry bemused manner without revelling in the standard cynicism. The story is a good one, but it is really the characters and the fine cinematic storytelling which hold 101 Reykjavik together.
It's also nice to know that there is more to Icelandic films than loud vikings and senior citizens. The Reykjavik club scene looks rocking.
Victoria Abril (of Pedro Almodovar fame) is well cast as the temptress of mother and son (giving him a son and a brother in one fell sweep), but the rest of the cast is Icelandic and unknown to me although they are obviously experienced according to IMDb. "Newcomer" Hilmir Snaer Gudnason deserves special mention as the leading male, a difficult part as the character goes from a thin version of Ignatius J Reilly (Conderacy of Dunces) to a pretty nice guy without the changes being very noticeable.
This is a black comedy dealing with unusual themes, but it works as the humor strikes home in a dry bemused manner without revelling in the standard cynicism. The story is a good one, but it is really the characters and the fine cinematic storytelling which hold 101 Reykjavik together.
It's also nice to know that there is more to Icelandic films than loud vikings and senior citizens. The Reykjavik club scene looks rocking.