The Dance

Águst Guðmundsson directed this Icelandic period drama, adapted from the short story We Must Dance by William Heinesen, and set on an island in 1913. Pétur (Gunnar Helgason) narrates, recalling the days when mainlanders arrived for a wedding. Flirtatious Sirsa (Pálína Jónsdottir) marries Harald (Dofri Hermannsson), son of a wealthy landowner on the island. Offshore, a ship is sinking, so the men form a rescue party, returning with the captain, the engineer, and several sailors. With a storm gathering, the engineer dies. The clergyman requests an end to the festivities as a mark of respect. Sirsa protests, but her new husband brings the celebration to a halt. The group then fragments into different activities, drunken or otherwise, and the sensual Sirsa directs her attention toward the handsome Ívar (Baldur Trausti Hreinsson). The film's score features traditional folk music.

5.5

83 min

Cast

Gunnar Helgason

as Pétur

Joi Johannsson

as Vítus

Benedikt Erlingsson

as Hólófernes

Baldur Trausti Hreinsson

as Ívar

Magnús Ólafsson

as Sýslumaður

Gísli Halldórsson

as Nikulás

Pálína Jónsdóttir

as Sirsa

Dofri Hermannsson

as Haraldur

Arnar Jónsson

as Djákni

Þórunn Magnea Magnúsdóttir

as Móðir Haraldar

Björk Jakobsdóttir

as Theodóra

Guðrún Þ. Stephensen

as Sjómannsekkja

Lilja Guðrún Þorvaldsdóttir

as Sýslumannsfrú

Elís Poulsen

as Jóhann

Director

Ágúst Guðmundsson