Iceland review - 2016, Page 12

The Trolls in the Knolls
is a book of 35 Icelandic
folk and fairy tales, edited
by Silja Aðalsteinsdóttir
and translated into
English by María Helga
Guðmundsdóttir. The
154-page book, beauti-
fully illustrated by Fífa
Finnsdóttir, contains
many of Iceland’s most
famous tales, such as
Búkolla and the Boy, The
Deacon of Dark River and
Gilitrutt. Several tales
illustrate the complicated relationship between humans
and elves—sometimes hostile, sometimes friendly. A few
describe the threatening presence of trolls and their
supernatural abilities, while others relate the dark power
of witchcraft. Most memorable are the ones depicting
the essential friendship and cooperation between humans
and animals, the rewards for kindness and the punish-
ment for arrogance and egotism. The book includes tales
commonly told in Iceland and frequently referred to, and
illustrates well the superstitions and wild imagination
that accompany growing up in close proximity to nature.
BY VALA HAFSTAÐ.
Inspired by a true story,
The Oath (Eiðurinn) a
new film by Baltasar
Kormákur, features
the director himself as
Finnur, a cardiologist
whose daughter Anna
becomes involved with
a drug dealer. As he
realizes he’s losing her
to the world of drugs,
he discovers how lit-
tle the authorities can
do to help. Desperate,
he takes matters into
his own hands, risking
his life and reputation.
Baltasar proves himself,
once again, a master of
suspense; this time tackling a subject increasingly relevant
in modern society. Ólafur Egill Egilsson co-wrote the script,
inspired by his younger sister’s battle with drugs. Baltasar’s
own acting is convincing, as is that of Gísli Örn Garðarsson,
in the role of Óttar the drug dealer, and Hera Hilmarsdóttir,
who masterfully portrays the role of the troubled Anna. The
storyline is clever, keeping the viewer’s undivided attention.
BY VALA HAFSTAÐ.
10 ICELAND REVIEW
Sundur is the third outing from
Reykjavík-based twins Ásthildur and
Jófríður, known as Pascal Pinon. The
title is taken from the Icelandic prov-
erb meaning ‘apart and together,’
which describes the pair separated
across the globe, with Ásthildur stud-
ying in Amsterdam and Jófríður trave-
ling extensively with her other musical
projects, Samaris, JFDR and Gangly.
Recorded in a rare moment when both
in Reykjavík, Sundur is fragile lo-fi folk,
with a wonderful tenderness that per-
meates each song. Perhaps more min-
imal than previous efforts, and aided
by Jófríður’s breathy delivery, Sundur
is intimate and beguiling, no more so
than on the tracks ‘Orange’ and ‘53’. It
seems that distance didn’t affect these
two after all, or only in the best of
ways. BY EDWARD HANCOX.
R E V I E W S
▶ ELVES AND OTHER INVISIBLE CREATURES
▶ APART AND TOGETHER
▶ DESTROYED BY DRUGS
CULTURAL CURIOSITIES
Our critics take a look at three recent releases: Baltasar Kormákur’s latest film The Oath, Pascal
Pinon’s third album, Sundur, and a collection of folk and fairy tales, The Trolls in the Knolls, edited
by Silja Aðalsteinsdóttir and translated into English by María Helga Guðmundsdóttir.