Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.01.2008, Page 7

Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. janúar 2008 • 7
Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca
The work of Kristján
Loðmfjörð, part II
For this instalment of Lambswool Cinema, I have a few more notes on
the work of that estimable Ice-
landic mash-up artist Kristján
Loðmfjörð, as well as on that of
a few of his contemporaries.
The Loðmfjörð collection
was not the only DVD I came
across in my recent adventures.
The other was a compilation of
short Icelandic works, including
the most recent of Loðmfjörð’s
re-edit jobs. This one, called
Hvalalíf, is a new version of a
beloved Icelandic comedy from
1983 called Nýtt líf.
Loðmfjörð takes the sad-
sack, cod-processing protago-
nists and makes them obsessed
with killing whales instead. It’s
most amusing! Loðmfjörð’s
concoctions are not only fine
pieces on their own merits, but
they offer an opportunity to
catch at least a glimpse of some
older Icelandic films which are
difficult to find here in North
America.
The DVD of which this
movie was a part appears to be
a complicated “DVD magazine”
called Rafskinna. This was evi-
dently the very first issue, and
there were many gems to be
found on it! There was a comic
strip in animated-cartoon form
called An American Baby that
was unlike any cartoon I had seen
before. There was a film-poem
called Sunrise that involved na-
ture, hiking, music, dancing and
action figures. There was a video
by the Icelandic good-time mu-
sical troupe GusGus — it was
rendered in crude cut-out forms
like the esteemed cartoon South
Park. There were four wondrous
videos by Ingibjörg Birgisdóttir.
And so much more — two and
a half hours in all! If you are in-
terested in finding out more, and
perhaps even seeing some of the
videos I’ve described, you may
do so by going to www.rafskin-
na.com.
* * *
Important notes! We in Win-
nipeg are going to be double-
dosed with hometown Lamb-
swool favourite Guy Maddin
this spring! The Winnipeg Free
Press reports that Maddin’s re-
cent feature Brand Upon The
Brain will be screening once
and once only on February 5, as
a part of the Winnipeg Sympho-
ny Orchestra New Music Fes-
tival. The WSO will play live
music to accompany the feature,
there will be foley artists per-
forming sound effects live, and
none other than Swedish/Ital-
ian supermodel/actress Isabella
Rossellini will narrate the film,
also live. This is certain to be an
astonishing event!
Later in the spring (no exact
date has been set), Maddin will
screen his matchless documen-
tary My Winnipeg (reviewed in
these pages late last year), and
will perform the narration him-
self. This is likely to occur at the
Burton Cummings Theatre for
the Performing Arts, probably
in March. Keep your eyes open
— I will be sure to report on this
news as it develops!
Until next time, readers, I
bid you adieu and all the bless-
ings Lambswool Cinema can
offer!
Caelum Vatnsdal is a Winni-
peg writer and filmmaker of Ice-
landic descent. He is the author
of Kino Delerium: The Films of
Guy Maddin and They Came
From Within: A History of Ca-
nadian Horror Cinema.
2008
INL Convention
Convention facility:
The Westin Hotel
320-4th Avenue S.W. | Calgary, AB T2P 2S6
www.westin.com/calgary
To register at the Westin Hotel, Calgary,
mention the Icelandic National League Convention
Toll free 1-800-937-8461 or
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=0707313239&key=47A75
Registration Deadline:
❖ Before February 8, 2008 $145.00 CDN
❖ Regular after February 8, 2008 $165.00 CDN
❖ Saturday Banquet only $55.00 CDN
FINAL DEADLINE FOR HOTEL, CONVENTION, AND BANQUET IS
MARCH 25, 2008 BEFORE 5:00 P.M. MDT
Tours are being arranged for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
YOU MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED TO ATTEND THE CONVENTION
OUR FUTURE: THEN AND NOW
Calgary, Alberta
April 24 to 27, 2008
Registration includes Breakfast and Lunch on
Friday & Saturday and Saturday Banquet
Visit our website to register or for more information contact:
Gwen Mann lgmann@shaw.ca
Margaret Grisdale grisdal9@telus.net
MAIL YOUR REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT TO:
Leif Eiriksson Icelandic Club | c/o Jane McReynolds
56 Oakmount Court S.W. | Calgary, AB T2V 5B9
jane.mcreynolds@gmail.com or phone (403) 281-2600
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE INL WEBSITE AT
WWW.INLOFNA.ORG OR LEIC WEBSITE AT WWW.LEIC.CA
642-5504Ernest Stefanson
Garry Fedorchuk
Claire Gillis
Pat Sedun
PHARMACISTS
Live well with
PHARMASAVE
Lighthouse Mall Gimli
PHARMASAVE
LAMBSWOOL
CINEMA
Caelum Vatnsdal
Winnipeg, MB
IMAGE COURTESY OF CAELUM VATNSDAL
Kristján Loðmfjörð’s Hvalalíf is a drastically edited take on
the Icelandic movie Nýtt líf (above).
The story of New Iceland
unfolds before you...
������������������� ������� ����������
�����������������������
�������������
The New Iceland Heritage Museum tells the story of a unique chapter in
Canadian history, the landing and the establishment of New Iceland on the
west shore of Lake Winnipeg in 1875.
Lögberg and Heimskringla were founded soon after by dedicated settlers that
were committed to the continuance of the Icelandic culture in North America.
Today, The New Iceland Heritage Museum sends its very
best wishes to Lögberg-Heimskringla on this historic event.
Congratulations on 120 years of Lögberg
������
��������������������������������