Rams

In a remote valley in Iceland, two brothers look after their sheep side by side – although they haven’t spoken to each other in forty years. Winner of the Un Certain Regard Prize at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

In a remote, windswept corner of Iceland reside two prize rams, Garpur and Sproti. Coincidentally, they belong to Gummi and Kiddi, who happen to be neighbours – and brothers – who haven’t spoken to each other in forty years…

Anybody who ‘gets’ Icelandic humour should relish the doleful, under-stated and straight-faced portrayal of rivalry, competition, loneliness and sheep as delineated in Grímur Hákonarson's Rams. The fact that it is so entirely plausible and bleakly beautiful just adds to the distinctive measure of this haunting and original work. And if you think you know where the story is going, you may be surprised. It’s grim up north – but, here, it’s also quite droll and surprisingly moving.

Icelandic title: Hrútar.

JAMES CAMERON-WILSON

Cast: Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Theódór Júlíusson.

Dir and Screenplay Grímur Hákonarson, Pro Grímar Jónsson, Ph Sturla Brandth Grøvlen, Pro Des Bjarni Massi, Ed Kristján Loðmfjörð, Music Atli Örvarsson, Costumes Ólöf Benediktsdóttir and Margrét Einarsdóttir.

Netop Films EHF/Film Farms/Aeroplan Film-Soda Pictures.
92 mins. Iceland/Denmark. 2015. Rel: 5 February 2016. Cert. 15.