Talking to family friend Guy Morgan (who since this was originally written, suddenly passed away from a about brain hemorrhage in 2019 at just age 46.) the excellent Nordic Noir film Black's Game (2012-also reviewed),he told me about a gay Nordic Drama that he had recently seen. With having only seen the Noir offerings from recent Nordic cinema,I started to get the "jitters" to explore other genres.
View on the film:
Backed by a warm acoustic indie soundtrack,co-writer/(along with Ingibjörg Reynisdóttir)director Baldvin Zophoníasson & cinematographer Jóhann Máni Jóhannsson give the movie a rustic,almost documentary appearance,as Zophoníasson's long takes capture the intimacy and friendship between Gabriel and his friends with a real delicacy.
Giving the paperback cover of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a cheeky cameo, Zophoníasson subtly brings darkness into Gabriel & Stella's friendship,as the light,breezy brightness of the first half dims into dark blues and blacks,as Stella starts to reach a breaking point with her grandmother.
For the screenplay of the film, Zophoníasson & Reynisdóttir use the opening to give the relationship between Gabriel & Markus a firm foundation,thanks to the casual nature of the dialogue expressing the love and tenderness that Gabriel feels for Marcus.
Surrounding Gabriel with a group of pals,the writers brilliantly make the criss- crossing plots feel like they are building the overall friendship of the gang,as Stella's tragic issues with her ground mother are entwined with Markus having a desire to know about what Gabriel's feelings are for him.
Given the most tragic notes of the friends,Iva Holmes gives a raw,heartfelt performance as Stella,with Holmes brilliantly balancing Stella's relaxed,friendly personality with a brittle darkness that becomes to much to bare.
Lighting up the screen with his dazzling eyes, Atli Oskar Fjalarsson gives a fantastic performance as Gabriel,thanks to Fjalarsson giving an adorable awkwardness,as he starts to get the jitters for Markus.
View on the film:
Backed by a warm acoustic indie soundtrack,co-writer/(along with Ingibjörg Reynisdóttir)director Baldvin Zophoníasson & cinematographer Jóhann Máni Jóhannsson give the movie a rustic,almost documentary appearance,as Zophoníasson's long takes capture the intimacy and friendship between Gabriel and his friends with a real delicacy.
Giving the paperback cover of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a cheeky cameo, Zophoníasson subtly brings darkness into Gabriel & Stella's friendship,as the light,breezy brightness of the first half dims into dark blues and blacks,as Stella starts to reach a breaking point with her grandmother.
For the screenplay of the film, Zophoníasson & Reynisdóttir use the opening to give the relationship between Gabriel & Markus a firm foundation,thanks to the casual nature of the dialogue expressing the love and tenderness that Gabriel feels for Marcus.
Surrounding Gabriel with a group of pals,the writers brilliantly make the criss- crossing plots feel like they are building the overall friendship of the gang,as Stella's tragic issues with her ground mother are entwined with Markus having a desire to know about what Gabriel's feelings are for him.
Given the most tragic notes of the friends,Iva Holmes gives a raw,heartfelt performance as Stella,with Holmes brilliantly balancing Stella's relaxed,friendly personality with a brittle darkness that becomes to much to bare.
Lighting up the screen with his dazzling eyes, Atli Oskar Fjalarsson gives a fantastic performance as Gabriel,thanks to Fjalarsson giving an adorable awkwardness,as he starts to get the jitters for Markus.