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.
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.
This movie is a good, 'gritty' film, about a lower class family going through major cultural shock. Chances are you don't speak icelandic (I don't) but subtitled it flowed very well. It's not hollywood like, it goes a bit slower than your average film, but they use that time to develop the characters and to get you emotionally involved.
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.
I have to disagree with the user that commented on the movie above me. You might think that this is my opinion as an Icelander, but this is truly my honest opinion from a motion picture point of view.
This story probably captures Icelandic viewers born from 1900 - 1950 even better than the rest, since they might remember this peculiar scenario, where the poor people of the country lived in US/UK military cabins. This story realistically describes life in those days if you had little financial capabilities and lived in Iceland, which took a big leap in that time frame in regards of technology and thinking. Actors put on quite a show, and the characters are of such variations that almost everyone can relate to some of them, whether if it's yourself or somebody you know.
I don't know why the other critic claimed that he didn't care whether the characters lived or died, but it seems to me that he wasn't really paying attention to the movie. I don't know if it's because it's mainly in Icelandic, or because of another reason (maybe not subtitled), but I recommend this movie to anyone who likes good movies that are not typical Hollywood movies.
Cheers.
This story probably captures Icelandic viewers born from 1900 - 1950 even better than the rest, since they might remember this peculiar scenario, where the poor people of the country lived in US/UK military cabins. This story realistically describes life in those days if you had little financial capabilities and lived in Iceland, which took a big leap in that time frame in regards of technology and thinking. Actors put on quite a show, and the characters are of such variations that almost everyone can relate to some of them, whether if it's yourself or somebody you know.
I don't know why the other critic claimed that he didn't care whether the characters lived or died, but it seems to me that he wasn't really paying attention to the movie. I don't know if it's because it's mainly in Icelandic, or because of another reason (maybe not subtitled), but I recommend this movie to anyone who likes good movies that are not typical Hollywood movies.
Cheers.
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 The Bad Seed (1956)
- SoundtracksAll Shook Up
Written by Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Djävulsön
- 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
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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