Reykjavík Grapevine - jan. 2023, Blaðsíða 11

Reykjavík Grapevine - jan. 2023, Blaðsíða 11
11The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 1— 2023 Þrettánd Celebrations January 6 — Multiple locations at multiple times Despite becoming Christian in the year 1,000, Iceland has firmly held on to many of its distinctly pagan traditions. January 6 is known as ‘Þrettándi’ (the thirteenth), and is supposedly the night when all of the elves come out and wreak havoc. For some reason, Icelanders celebrate this with bonfires and traditional singing! Each municipality hosts its own bonfire, with the city of Reyk- javík’s taking place at Ægisíða at 18:30. JG Tertulia Festival January 12 to 16 — Multiple locations at multiple times It’s not often we get to share a brand new concept! Tertulia festi- val, a music and dining experience originating in New York, is hosting its very first edition in Reykjavík! They will be hosting two differ- ent dinners, two breakfasts, and one happy hour. Imagine yourself dressed your best, enjoying an incredible meal and dreaming away on live chamber music in between courses. Check out more on events. grapevine.is. What’s not to love? KW RVK Feminist Film Festival January 12-15 — Multiple locations The Reykjavík Feminist Film Festi- val returns with its fourth edition, focusing on all things horror. You might have a love-hate relation- ship with horror films, but remem- ber that it’s a good opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate film- makers who identify as women. The festival will also showcase films competing for the Sister Awards (their short film competition) and host a few networking events, like a pre-afterparty with flash tattoos at Reykjavík Marina on Jan. 7. IZ In the age of smartphones, our most personal secrets are often stored away in apps, folders, and notes on our devices. But what would happen if all of that sensitive information were to be exposed? Director Elsa María Jakobsdót- tir’s “Villibráð’” (“Wild Game”) explores that scenario, telling the story of seven friends at a dinner party in Vesturbær who decide to play a game that puts their relationships to the test. As secrets are revealed and lies are exposed, the group is forced to confront the consequences of oversharing in the digital age. Will their friendships survive the night, or will the weight of their secrets tear them apart? An Icelandic take on the Italian story With a background in journalism and television, Elsa María Jakobsdóttir is a well-known film director and screen- writer in Iceland. She studied at the National Film School of Denmark and has received multiple awards for her short films. 2023, will see the release of both a TV series, and “Villibráð,” her first feature film. “Villibráð” is a remake of Paolo Geno- vese’s 2016 film ‘Perfect Strangers,’ a dark comedy with themes and characters that Elsa is certain will appeal well to Iceland- ers. “It's based on a concept that has been remade all around the world: it's a dinner party with seven characters. We’re using the concept of the telephone game,” says Elsa. “Our aim with this film is to enter- tain the Icelandic audience,” the director affirms. Though she has won multiple awards for her short films, there was something freeing for Elsa in making her first feature-length film specifically for the local audience. “Nothing needs to be translated. You don't have to worry that nobody outside of this culture is going to understand it.” Bringing the movie to life Elsa co-wrote the script with playwright Tyrfingur Tyrfingsson. “We were work- ing on something else,” she recalls. “Then this concept came about and we decided that we should try to make an Icelandic version of this just as screenwriters and see where that would go. It went very well! We had so much fun writing it.” Early on in the process, Elsa knew that she wanted to direct the film, even though she admits that making a remake of an Italian movie as her first feature was never the plan. “I didn’t see that coming,” says Elsa. While the script and idea developed swiftly, production took longer. “We thought that this would all have been really quick — like a perfect COVID proj- ect, because it's just seven characters in a house,” says Elsa. “But then, of course, as it happens with film, everything takes much longer in development. So, COVID was almost finished when we finally shot the film last year.” Doing impossible things “One thing I've learned during the last two years is how much being a film direc- tor is about trusting and collaborating,” admits Elsa. “The better that I get at trusting and collaborating, the easier things get.” One of the key challenges Elsa faced in making the movie was playing the wait- ing game. “There's a lot more waiting than I expected — waiting for finance, waiting for things to move along,” she shares. “It can be extremely frustrating, and you can feel your life wasted a little bit.” Unlike most Icelandic films, “Villi- bráð” is not a co-production, so it was made with an entirely Icelandic crew. “I just loved how extremely qualified and talented people are. It was just so reassuring to have all these fantas- tic resources around me,” Elsa says, mentioning the crew’s skill in problem solving and overcoming every obstacle. “The only option you have is to be doing impossible things.” CULTURE NEWS Friendships In Vestur- bær Are At Stake Icelandic cinema kicks off the new season with the premiere of “Villibráð” Words: Iryna Zubenko Photos: Art Bicnick & Supplied thIs Is the culture sectIon “Villibráð” premiers in the Icelandic cinemas on Jan. 6. Catch it with English subtitles starting Jan. 15.

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