EGILL EDVARDSSON

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB.5

France/Germany/Norway/Iceland, 1995.  Pegasus Pictures, Zentropa Entertainments, Journal Filmproduktion.  Screenplay by Jon Asgeir Hreinsson, Snorri Þórisson.  Cinematography by Snorri Þórisson.  Produced by Snorri Þórisson.  Production Design by Þór Vigfússon.  Costume Design by Helga I. Stefánsdóttir.  Film Editing by Steingrímur Karlsson.  

Icelandic drama about a beautiful, mistreated servant girl in a rich 17th century household who runs away to live with a handsome doctor who practices unconventional medicine. After her first few days with him, she realizes that he’s a sadistic madman and she was better off where she came from, until it all comes to a dramatic head and she is unjustly blamed for his accidental death in a self-started house fire. The exceptional acting is to be noted, as is the convincing period detail, but you can never escape the feeling that this supposed heroine is constantly acting like an idiot on purpose, and getting herself into trouble she could well have avoided.