Episodes
-
Halló!
Rob and Ellie travel to yet another remote Icelandic village and meet a whole host of villagers with stories to tell and dreams to dream in Elfar Aðalsteins' film adaptation of Jón Kalman Stefánsson's popular novel 'Summerlight...And Then Comes The Night'.
With a large ensemble cast of familiar faces including Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Svandís Dóra Einarsdóttir, Víkingur Kristjánsson, Þorsteinn Bachmann, Jóhann Sigurðarson and Heida Reed, 'Summerlight' explores the villagers' lives during the long summer days and the long winter nights.
A successful businessman gives it all up to teach astronomy in the local town hall, two farmers have an affair, a young man loses his father, and a couple spark up a romance. These are stories both specific and universal, and the film depicts them beautifully with incredible cinematography and gorgeous music.
Available to stream, rent and buy in the UK on Prime.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Instagram kvikmyndapod
Bluesky @kvikmyndapod.bsky.social
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
In this week's minisode Rob and Ellie, together with guest Natalie Peck, head to Reykjavík, by way of the BFI London Film Festival!
In a non-spoiler discussion, they chat about the one Icelandic movie that had its UK premiere as part of the 2024 festival.
That film is 'When The Light Breaks' starring Elín Hall, directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson, not the Icelandic footballer who plays in goal for the national team, but the director of the wonderful 'Echo' which was discussed in an earlier series, and with music by Jóhann Jóhannsson.
The group also discuss a short film that recently dropped on Disney+, 'Fár' directed by Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter and with cinematography by Eli Arenson.
Natalie can be found on X @nataliepeck
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Instagram kvikmyndapod
X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Missing episodes?
-
Halló!
Rob and Ellie get their teeth sunk into an English-language Hollywood movie this week, as they follow big time Icelandic director (and actor) Baltasar Kormákur all the way to South Africa to witness Idris Elba punch a lion!
In 'Beast', Elba's Dr Nate Samuels takes his daughters on a pilgrimage to their recently deceased mother's village hoping it will bring the family closer together. Matters are complicated somewhat by a prowling lion hell-bent on revenge against the poachers who killed it's pride. Will the family survive and/or thrive? Take a guess!
Also starring Sharlto Copley as ranger Martin Battles, Leah Jeffries and Ivana Halley as Norah and Meredith Samuels, 'Beast' is an action-packed creature feature thriller with plenty of tension and adventure!
Unlike any other Kormákur film covered on the podcast, this a fun change of pace and a fascinating look at how the director embraces another side of film-making. 'Beast' is now streaming on Netflix in the UK, and is available to rent or buy pretty much anywhere.
Music by Steven Price
Cinematography by Philippe Rousselot
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
Rob and Ellie drop into your feeds to discuss a new football documentary - always striking while the iron is hot - titled 'The Home Game', or 'Heimaleikurinn'.
Directors Smari Gunn and Logi Sigursveinsson bring the story of Reynir FC to cinemas; 25 years after his father created a pitch in a small town in the west of Iceland and failed to get the local team to play a match on it, Kari picks up the mantle and sets out to put together another team to play an FA Cup match on the pitch! And not lose 10-0...
With great characters, surprising moments and an excellent score (pun intended) this feel-good underdog story demonstrates just how much community can mean and how sport can unite.
Available to stream in Iceland, Sweden and New Zealand, 'The Home Game' can also be spotted at festivals around the world and will be playing soon in UK cities. Keep an eye on the film's Instagram for the latest on screenings!
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Instagram kvikmyndapod
X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
In the final episode of series 6, Rob and Ellie are back in the capital for another film by one-man movie-making machine Baltasar Kormákur.
Anna, the daughter of heart surgeon Finnur, is addicted to drugs and madly in love with her dealer boyfriend and all round bad influence, Óttar. As her father, Finnur takes it into his hands rid her of the bad boyfriend. But things don't quite go to plan.An Icelandic variation on the 'Taken'-style action and psychological thriller, 'The Oath', or 'Eiðurinn' from 2016 was written and directed by, and stars Baltasar Kormákur. It also stars series favourites Hera Hilmar and Gísli Örn Garðarsson and features other familiar faces too - Þorsteinn Bachmann, Ingvar Sigurðsson and Þorsteinn Gunnarsson.
Stunning cinematography by 'Driving Mum' director of photography Óttar Guðnason and a chilling cello score from Hildur Guðnadóttir also help to make this a particularly Icelandic form of Hollywood movie.
'The Oath' is available to rent or buy on Apple TV.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
Episode five finds Rob and Ellie in the UK! But not for too long as this week's film follows a group of people with a fear of flying boarding an exposure flight to, you guessed it, Iceland!
Our Fearless Flyers include Sarah (played by Lydia Leonard), a competent business woman who wants to overcome her fear so she can go on holiday with her partner and his daughter; Edward (Timothy Spall), a popular writer and army veteran; Alfons (Sverrir Guðnason), a budding tech developer; and his partner Coco (Ella Rumpf) who needs Alfons to follow her around the world and take photos of her bum.
Much madness and uncomfortableness ensues and there's even room for Icelandic actors Björn Hlynur Haraldsson and Svandis Dora Einarsdottir, and English comedy actor Rob Delaney in a small but pivotal role.
Not only does it start in the UK, but 'Northern Comfort' is in English, so no subtitles! This is 'Under The Tree' director Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson's English-language debut and it recently dropped on Netflix in the UK.
Music by Daníel Bjarnason
Cinematography by Niels Thastum
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
For episode four, Rob and Ellie return to Reykjavík and the Nordic Noir genre for 2016's 'Cruelty', directed by Anton Sigurðsson.
When two young sisters are found murdered in the woods of a Reykjavík suburb, detectives Edda and Jói are called on to solve a case with few to no clues. But a long list of possible suspects...
Starring Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir and Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson, this is a cold, bleak and grim crime thriller that exposes the world of sex offenders in Iceland.
Also starring Hannes Óli Ágústsson, Salóme Gunnarsdóttir, Helgi Björnsson, Pétur Óskar and Atli Rafn Sigurðsson.
Music by Kristján Sturla Bjarnason.
The film is available to rent or buy in the UK on Apple TV.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
Episode three finds Rob and Ellie taking an eccentric road trip south from the Westfjords of Iceland with Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson's Jón and his deceased mother, played by Kristbjörg Kjeld!
Set in the 1980s, Hilmar Oddson's black and white comedy drama is an offbeat delight about a man coming to terms with what his life could have been and now could be. These revelations occur as he drives a beat up Ford Cortina across the unforgiving Icelandic terrain, bumps into some strange folk, and reminisces about a former lover (played by Hera Hilmar).
Nominated for a whole host of EDDA Awards in 2024 (the Icelandic Oscars), this film deserves all the acclaim it's getting, including for Tõnu Kõrvits' score and Óttar Guðnason's cinematography.
Released in the UK on the 1st March and travelling up and down the country throughout the coming months, 'Driving Mum' is one not to miss at your local indie cinema! A list of screenings can be found here.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
Threads @kvikmyndapod
Join in the conversation on Discord
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
This week Rob and Ellie travel north to the remote area of Strandir in the Icelandic Westfjords for a romantic period piece.
In Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir's 'A Letter From Helga', or 'Svar við bréfi Helgu', farmers Bjarni and Helga (played beautifully by Thorvaldur Kristjansson and Hera Hilmar) begin a passionate affair as the rest of their small town whisper secrets to one another.
Emotions run high and big decisions need to be made while the rugged and wild landscapes of the north of Iceland serve as a backdrop to both characters' mental and physical journeys.
Based on a well-loved novel by Bergsveinn Birgisson, this was available to watch with English subtitles via the RUV website earlier in the year (here) so keep an eye out in case it returns!
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
Threads @kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Kvikmyndapod is back for series 6!
For episode one, Rob and Ellie invite you to a funny, stressful and cringe dinner party in Vesturbær.
Directed by Elsa Maria Jakobsdóttir, 'Wild Game' is one of over 20 country-specific adaptations of the Italian movie 'Perfetti sconosciuti', 'Perfect Strangers'. This version features an all star Icelandic cast including Anita Briem, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Þuríður Blær Jóhannsdóttir, Gísli Örn Garðarsson and Hilmar Guðjónsson.
A group of close friends get together and their biggest secrets are revealed during a game involving their mobile phones. Could it be that someone is cheating? Or that another is hiding their true sexuality? These questions will be answered!
Available to watch with English subtitles via the RUV website until the 1st of March (here) this is an explosive start to the sixth series of Kvikmyndapod!
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on X @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
Threads @kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
It's that time again, and on this week's episode Rob and Ellie return to Reykjavík for a conspiracy thriller based on a book.
The film is Óskar Thór Axelsson's 'Operation Napoleon: Frozen Conspiracy', based on Arnaldur Indriðason's 1999 best-selling novel 'Operation Napoleon'. Starring Iain Glen, Vivian Ólafsdóttir, Jack Fox and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson this is a romp in the vein of the 'Indiana Jones' films but with glaciers, modern technology and an assassin who likes to use pencils...
With action, an actual historical conspiracy and a supporting cast that includes the landlady from 'Ted Lasso' and pod favourite Þröstur Leó, this is a fun Hollywood-style movie with breathtaking Icelandic landscapes actually portraying themselves! And it will be available in the UK to stream on demand from the 14th August.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
This week, for Rob and Ellie's fifth trip around the cinema of Iceland, they head back out to the countryside for some creepy goings on at a remote cabin...
The film under discussion this week is Erlingur Thoroddsen’s ‘Rift’, or ‘Rokkur’ from 2017. Gunnar (Björn Stefánsson) and Einar (Sigurður Þór Óskarsson) get to grips with their fractured relationship amid some spooky situations in the middle of nowhere. Questions abound in this stunningly shot and brilliantly acted indie horror movie.
Available in the UK to rent or buy on Amazon or to stream on Flix Premiere or Revry.
Thank you to those who have supported the podcast so far by donating to us via ko-fi!
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
47c7e93b9dff08c72bb8c91992edf54301ffb8ed
-
Halló!
This week Rob and Ellie take another trip to south east Iceland just in time for the UK release of Hlynur Pálmason's Godland!
An incredibly shot epic about a Danish priest's mission to conquer a corner of Iceland and spread the word of God, this is film-making of the highest level.
Elliott Crosset Hove stars as Lucas, the Danish man of God who butts heads with Ingvar Sigurðsson's Ragnar, an Icelandic man very much of the land.
To see this film is to take in the majesty of the landscape and the complexities of a country once under the rule of another.
Available to watch in UK cinemas (including the Bristol Watershed) and on Curzon Home Cinema from 7th April, Godland is a stunning piece of work and features eerie music from Dirty Beaches' Alex Zhang Hungtai and magnificent cinematography once again from Maria von Hausswolff.
Also starring Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Vic Carmen Sonne and Jacob Lohmann.
Rob and Ellie also recently had a great time chatting about the non-Icelandic bonkers Jason Statham movie Crank on Flixwatcher podcast which you can listen to here: Crank!
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
Episode three finds Rob and Ellie back in Reykjavík for a psychological thriller from first time director Tinna Hrafnsdóttir, who also wrote the film based on a book by Auður Jónsdóttir.
'Quake', or 'Skjálfti' from 2021 tells the story of an author and mother named Saga who, after an epileptic seizure, experiences memory loss at the same time as hidden memories of family secrets begin to resurface.
With a brilliant central performance from Anita Briem, this is a cold, noir-ish look at how memory works, the cost of keeping secrets, and what it means to want to protect your family.
Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sveinn Geirsson and Jóhann Sigurðarson give great supporting turns as Saga's mostly well-meaning family, and Tómas Örn Tómasson's cinematography is suitably stark and beautiful.
'Quake' is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
The second episode of series 5 takes Rob and Ellie to 90s America for a 25-minute, Oscar-nominated coming-of-age animation called 'My Year of Dicks'!
Directed by Sara Gunnarsdóttir and written by American screenwriter and actress Pamela Ribon, the short film is split into five chapters, each one about young Pam's encounters with the boy's she hopes will fall in love with her and take her virginity.
Available to watch now at www.myyearofdicks.com, this a hilarious, heartfelt, super cringe and brilliantly animated exploration of what sex means to a teenage girl.
This exciting episode is split in two; the first half is a fun conversation with Sara herself (the first Icelandic female director to be nominated for an Oscar!), while in the second half Rob and Ellie discuss the film in detail.
Oh, and the brilliant end music is I Want it All by the brilliant Mr. Silla.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
It's series 5! And to kick things off for their fifth journey through the cinema of Iceland, Rob and Ellie are keeping things current with Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson's 'Beautiful Beings', or 'Berdreymi' from 2022!
Available to watch on demand from today, Guðmundsson's second feature film focuses on teenage boys once again, except this time in the city. Set in the Reykjavik suburbs, this film focuses on a group of boys and the violence that surrounds them as Addi, Konni and Siggi befriend the bullied Balli and the four of them navigate the brutal world of noughties teenagedom.
Starring a group of fantastic newcomers, as with 'Heartstone', as well as some stalwarts in Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and Anita Briem, this is a beautiful but brutal coming-of-age drama with a surprising supernatural element.
'Beautiful Beings' is not for the faint-of-heart, but is richly rewarding should you choose to press play; wonderful performances, stunning cinematography and an interesting look under the surface of suburbia.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
Get in touch via email [email protected]
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
And gleðileg jól!
As a little Christmas gift, Rob and Ellie reconvened for a short chat about Christmas, Christmas films, Icelandic films and Icelandic Christmas.
This episode is mostly a general chat, however part of the discussion does revolve around a small scene from Grímur Hákonarson's 'Rams' or 'Hrútar' from 2015 - the very first film covered on the podcast. The scene timecode is 45:30 - 52:27 and the film is available on DVD and Blu-ray, as well to rent or buy on Apple TV, BFI Player and Chili. Or you can stream it for free at MUBI, where you can get 30 days free trial if you follow this link: www.mubi.com/kvikmyndapod
Merry Christmas and Rob and Ellie will be back in the New Year.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
And so another journey through the cinema of Iceland ends. For this final episode of series four, Rob and Ellie discuss the multi-narrative drama 'Life in a Fishbowl' from 2014.
Baldvin Z's second feature follows the lives of three Icelanders living in Reykjavik and the ways in which they influence each other, for better or worse. One is a single mother and occasional sex worker, one is an alcoholic writer, and the other is a footballer-turned-financial businessman.
Starring Þorsteinn Bachmann, Hera Hilmar and Thor Kristjansson, this is a look at the real Reykjavik, the side that tourists don't often see. At times hard-hitting and tough to watch, at others beautiful and heartwarming, it's no wonder this was the Number 1 film in Iceland the year it was released.
Rob and Ellie will return for a pre-Christmas special but in the meantime join us on social media and keep your eyes on your podcast feeds!
Thanks to all our listeners, new and old, and to everyone involved in the films we've covered!
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
This week, Rob and Ellie return to Reykjavik and to the documentary format for Gaukur Úlfarsson's 'Gnarr', a film in which famous Icelandic comedian Jón Gnarr sets up a satirical political party and runs for Mayor of Reykjavík!
Over the course of four months Gnarr transforms from joke candidate to favourite, and his outlook and intentions change too...
The film can be found at dafilms.com.
Please subscribe/follow, rate and review on Spotify and Apple
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
And if you fancy supporting us, why not sling us the cost of a coffee!
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
-
Halló!
In this week's minisode Rob and Ellie journey, via Denmark, to the south east of Iceland, by way of the BFI London Film Festival!
In a non-spoiler discussion, they chat about the one Icelandic movie that was shown as part of the festival in 2022. One of only eight films in Official Competition!
GODLAND
Directed by Hlynur Pálmason
Written by Hlynur Pálmason
Starring Elliott Crosset Hove, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Vic Carmen Sonne, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir and Jacob Lohmann
Please subscribe, rate and review
and
Follow us on Twitter @KVIKMYNDAPOD
and Instagram kvikmyndapod
Artwork designed by Sophie Watts (justahappyspace)
Music by Branches Bare
('Half-light' from the EP 'In the Origami Folds of the Night You Rip the Seam of Sleep Wide Open)
- Show more
