Saw this at TIFF and was blown away. The cinematography and scenery are beautiful, and really drew you in to the setting. The inclusion of short experimental imagery was a brilliant touch that helped the viewer focus on the environment/nature going on around the characters and almost made the ecosystem a character in its own right.
Plot wise, this did not follow the arc I was expecting, and only exceeded my expectations. Other creators might have softened the ending, or toned down some of the harsher events, but I felt that it perfectly suited the tone of the story and mirrored what I imagine what life must have actually been like in that time and place.
In addition, the casting was spot on and the acting superb. (Ida Mekkin Hlynsdottir steals each scene she's in, and the dog is pretty much the most adorable creature ever.)
Plot wise, this did not follow the arc I was expecting, and only exceeded my expectations. Other creators might have softened the ending, or toned down some of the harsher events, but I felt that it perfectly suited the tone of the story and mirrored what I imagine what life must have actually been like in that time and place.
In addition, the casting was spot on and the acting superb. (Ida Mekkin Hlynsdottir steals each scene she's in, and the dog is pretty much the most adorable creature ever.)