Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.07.2017, Page 44

Lost Film Classics:
‘Foxtrot’ Delivers
80s road movie stands up to time
Words: Steindór Grétar Jónsson Photos: Still from the film
“Brothers will battle.” The ominous
foretelling of Ragnarök, the hea-
then armageddon, in the proph-
ecy the Völuspá is also the central
theme of ‘Foxtrot’ (English title:
‘Codename Foxtrott’), the 1988 Ice-
landic thriller history has all but
forgotten.
In the late 80s, Icelandic film-
making was still in its developing
stages. ‘Foxtrot’ was one of only
two films to be released in 1988
after only one had premiered the
year before, the equally intrigu-
ing ‘White Whales’ (‘Skytturnar’),
director Friðrik Þór Friðriksson’s
fiction-feature debut. However,
the filmmakers and their Nordic
co-financiers had ambitions for
international success, recording
every scene in ‘Foxtrot’ in both Ice-
landic and English, in preparation
for global distribution. If the Eng-
lish version was ever completed, it
remains unavailable to this day.
The film, directed by Jón Tryg-
gvason, is essentially an action
road movie in the vein of 1980s
American filmmaking. The pro-
tagonist, Tommi (Steinarr Ólafs-
son), an 18-year-old footballer,
accepts a job with his 36-year-old
half-brother Kiddi (Valdimar Fly-
genring), transporting a large sum
of money from Reykjavík to the east
coast. Kiddi is a national hero, hav-
ing played football professionally
in Spain, whereas Tommi is pub-
licly shamed wherever he goes for
missing a penalty shot in a U-21
match against Iceland’s main ri-
vals, Denmark. He idolises his older
brother, whom he didn’t see much
of growing up.
When the brothers join up with
fellow members of their convoy,
Kiddi recites the Icelandic prov-
erb “ber er hver að
baki”—he without a
brother has no one to
guard his back. When
the convoy is split up
by a glacial outburst
flood, the brothers
must continue the
mission alone, albeit
with a stowaway in
the trunk. The pres-
ence of hitchhiker
Lísa, played by María
Ellingsen of ‘D2: The
Mighty Ducks’ fame, quickly exac-
erbates the fraternal discord.
The narrative is compelling
throughout the 93-minute run-
time, with many exciting set piec-
es sprinkled in. In one early scene,
where the brothers accidentally hit
a stray sheep in the middle of the
road, their characters are revealed
by their respective reactions. “It’s
dead! Stone dead!” the elder yells,
dismissing his brother’s sympa-
thy. Gradually we see the true Kiddi
reveal himself, for underneath the
aviator shades and leather jacket
dwells one of Icelandic cinema’s
most heinous villains.
Much of this is owed to screen-
writer Sveinbjörn I. Baldvinsson,
who also wrote the excellent 1995
drama ‘Tár úr steini’ (‘Tears of
Stone’), which is largely set in Ger-
many during the rise of Nazism.
The tight script makes ‘Foxtrot’
a functional film (more than can
be said about the bulk of Icelan-
dic cinema), while the passing of
time has given the visual aspects
a certain quaint charm. The cin-
ematography by Karl Óskarsson is
excellent for its time and the use
of a glacial flood as a
plot point is a stroke
of genius. Last but
not least, the action
is beautifully scored
by Hilmar Örn Hil-
marsson, while Nor-
wegian pop star Jan
Bang—a collaborator
of A-ha’s Morten Har-
ket, no less—provides
the climactic anthem
“Frozen Feelings.”
‘Foxtrot’ can not
be accessed on any online stream-
ing services that this newspaper is
aware of. The Reykjavík Grapevine
does not condone piracy, but the
entire film is on YouTube (though
without subtitles), just sitting
there, waiting to be rediscovered.
‘Foxtrot’ may have looked dead for
a while, but not stone dead.
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Museums
ÁRBÆR OPEN AIR MUSEM
Daily guided tours
Tours are from 13:00 to 14:00
through its open air exhibits.
• On permanent view
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ICELAND
'The Making of A Nation'
This exhibition is intended to pro-
vide insight into the history of the
Icelandic nation from Settlement to
the present day.
• On permanent view
REYKJAVÍK CITY MUSEUM
‘Settlement Sagas: Accounts from
Manuscripts’
This exhibition has rarely seen
manuscripts that tell the history of
the settlement of Reykjavík.
• On permanent view
REYKJAVÍK MARITIME MUSEUM
'The Coast Guard Vessel Óðinn'
This vessel sailed through all three
Cod Wars and has also served as a
rescue ship to more than 200 ships.
• On permanent view
'From Poverty to Abundance'
Photos documenting Icelandic
fishermen at the turn of the 20th
century.
• On permanent view
'The History of Sailing'
Iceland’s maritime history that
showcases the growth of the Reyk-
javík Harbour.
• On permanent view
'Seawomen'
The fishing women of Iceland, past
and present.
• On permanent view
VOLCANO HOUSE
The exhibition gives a brief overview
of Iceland’s magnificent nature.
• On permanent view
THE ICELANDIC PHALLOLOGICAL
MUSEUM
Permanent Exhibition
More than 215 penises and penile
parts belonging to land and sea
mammals of Iceland.
• On permanent view
Film
This month's special screenings at Bíó Paradís. For the complete schedule,
visit www.bioparadis.is.
Currently Screening
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
July 15, 20:00
• Með allt á hreinu: Singalong!
July 20, 20:00
• Hair: Party Screening!
July 21, 20:00
• Jaws: Late Night Screening!
July 22, 22:00
• Regularly Screening:
Moonlight, Slack Bay, The Hap-
piest Day In The Life Of Olli Mäki,
Toni Erdmann, Welcome To Norway,
Everybody Wants Some!!, Sing Street,
Knight of Cups, Sing Street, Knight Of
Cups, Heartstone, I Remember You,
Rams, Sigur Rós: Heima, Jar City
Events
Með allt á hreinu
The narrative
is compelling
throughout
the 93-minute
runtime, with
many excit-
ing set pieces
sprinkled in.
FILM
MORE INFORMATION, OTHER TOURS & BOOKINGS AT:
WWW.STERNATRAVEL.COM OR VISIT OUR SALES DESK AT
HARPA CONCERT HALL DOWNTOWN REYKJAVÍK
GOLDEN CIRCLE &
THE SECRET LAGOON
A perfect combo of sightseeing
& relaxation in a natural lagoon!
Starting time 10:30
Free pick-up from 10:00
Duration 8 - 8,5 hours
PRICE: 12.900 ISK
BOOK
ONLINE &
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STERNATR
AVEL .COM
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