Iceland review - 2007, Page 15

ICELAND REVIEW 13
DAGUR b. eGGeRtSSon
BROKEBACK GLACIER?
Surprising moviegoers at this year’s Reykjavík International Film Festival was
Grímur Hákonarson’s short Braedrabylta (Wrestling), which portrays the
lives of two middle-aged men in the Icelandic countryside who play out
their secret love affair through the national sport of glíma wrestling. Filmed
on location in the East Fjords and at the Kárahnjúkar dam project, the
story takes on a dark, almost surreal mood allowing the cinematography
to speak louder than the sparse dialogue.
The film has been recognized at international festivals in Melbourne, Locarno,
the Nordisk Panorama held in Finland, and was most recently named short film
of the year at the 2007 Edda awards in Iceland. Perhaps most surprising is
the attention the director has received from Hollywood. “Universal showed
interest in doing a remake,” says Hákonarson. “I wouldn’t want to do it
myself, unless they get Hulk Hogan on board.”
With plans to tour in larger circuits next year, Braedrabylta will undoubtedly
be coming to a festival near you – so keep your cup firmly in place and
practice your sleeper hold for that someone special.
ICELANDICFILMCENTRE.IS
COUP D’REYKJAVÍK
Steeped in convoluted multipartisan cabals, the recent putsch staged in
Reykja vík is more cloak-and-dagger than humdrum municipal government.
Amidst accusations of corrupt dealings between civic leaders and Reykj a-
vík Energy Invest, Björn Ingi Hrafnsson, the sole representative of Iceland’s
atrophying agro party (the Progressive Party) on the city council, made a
surprise move.
On October 11 Hrafnsson is expected at a meeting of the coalition majority
with the Independence Party, who try repeatedly to reach him on his mobile.
Unbe knownst to the thumb-twiddling majority leaders, Hrafnsson has in-
stead con vened a clandestine conclave at his in-laws’ house with the oppo-
sition parties to form a new majority and suss out appointments. Presto
chango! The former mayor, Independence Party bigwig Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálm s -
son, is sacked and the new city council is formed with prince charming Dagur
B. Eggertsson, district leader of the Social Democrats, as mayor.
Some call him a dilettante, others see him as a governmental godsend, but
Eggerts son has Reykjavík hearts aflutter. More than just civic eye candy with
his foppish mop and Hugh Grant mien, the 35-year-old doctor has posi ti oned
himself as a paladin for young, progressive urbanites, refocusing Reykja vík’s
agenda on lessen ing the city’s reliance on cars, solving the staffing short age
at city play schools, and establishing citywide wireless access to the Inter-
net. Whether Reykjavík will follow suit is up in the air, but the vote is in on at
least one matter: the man has impeccable hair.
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