FRIDRIK THOR FRIDRIKSSON

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB

Original title:  Born natturannar

Germany/Iceland/Norway, 1991.  Icelandic Film, Metro Film, Max Film.  Screenplay by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Einar Guðmundsson.  Cinematography by Ari Kristinsson.  Produced by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Wolfgang Pfeiffer.  Music by Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson.  Production Design by Geir Ottar Geirsson.  Film Editing by Skule Eriksen, Skafti Gudmundsson.  

Sweet-natured film argues the individual freedoms of the elderly, whose strengths are often taken for granted. An old man is moved from his peaceful Icelandic village into an old age home in Reykjavik where he can be better taken care of and his children can visit him more. Also living in the home is an old childhood sweetheart of his, and seeing her again inspires him to bust out of the place and go somewhere that they can be happy without constraint. The two of them travel across the country until they can get to his girlfriend’s village, but concerned authorities are never too far behind. Lush and lyrical, this was the first film to gain Iceland’s film industry both the world’s attention and an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign-Language Film.

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Foreign Language Film

European Film Award:  Best European Composer
Nomination: Best European Actress (Sigridur Hagalin)