Seagull laughter
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Seagull laughter |
| Original title | Mávahlátur |
| Country of production | Iceland |
| original language | Icelandic |
| Publishing year | 2001 |
| length | 104 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Ágúst Guðmundsson |
| script | Ágúst Guðmundsson |
| production | Kristín Atladóttir |
| music | Ronen Waniewitz |
| camera | Peter Krause (cameraman, 1961) |
| cut | Henrik D. Møll |
| occupation | |
| |
Möwengelächter ( Icelandic Mávahlátur ) is an Icelandic film drama from 2001. The film is based on the novel of the same name by the author Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir . Directed by Ágúst Guðmundsson . German actor Heino Ferch plays one of the main roles . The film is 104 minutes long.
action
The young widow Freya returns to her Icelandic home village from the United States after the end of World War II and the death of her husband, a US soldier . Freya was welcomed by more distant, partly socialist relatives - her uncle - as well as her friends who stayed at home. Freya presents herself as an elegant and educated woman of the world. However, not all of the villagers respond positively to her return - her eleven-year-old cousin Agga in particular has more and more concerns about the young woman. Regarding the other villagers, Freya knows how to turn the heads of the men, which the women quickly acknowledge with disgruntled, sometimes envious looks. She is particularly interested in Björn Theódór, who is possibly the most sought-after and cosmopolitan - German-influenced - bachelor in the village, as he is a young civil engineer who studied abroad. Still, it's not just what makes the young man so interesting for Freya - Björn Theódór comes from a very wealthy family who owns shares in the local fishing fleet. Freya, who after her husband's death not only longs for a new love, but above all for an opportunity to maintain her American standard of living, sees Björn Theódór as an opportunity to finally move up in Icelandic society. As a working class girl, marriage may be the only option to achieve this. After a number of trials and tribulations, as well as Björn's stay abroad without any contact with his beloved and a business attempt by Freya - she runs a fabric and haberdashery shop, Björn Theódór and Freya become a steady couple, whereas the local society and above all Björn Theódór's own Mother protests. Despite the existing obstacles, the two become engaged and father a child together, whereupon Freya manages to rise in society and move into the luxurious estate of the family. Despite the taunts and the obvious rejection of her mother-in-law, Freya still tries to get justice. On the one hand, she invites the poor and outcasts of the village to tea, on the other hand, she also tries to establish order and justice by other means. This is also what the little cousin Agga, who observes everything Freya does from her hiding place, tries harder to understand the local policeman Magnús. According to Agga, the machinations of her cousin amount to the igniting of the unsympathetic and violent husband of one of her friends, including the house, as well as the murder of her own fiancé. Her fiancé's mother also dies while Freya's presence is in her house. Ultimately, Magnús begins to believe Agga's stories and praise the girl as a valuable partner and spy. Nevertheless, he is disappointed - Agga now denies everything. She went from girl to woman, now part of local society, switched sides and confirmed that all of her stories were nothing but a single lie.
reception
“An appealing comedy in a dry, cautiously self-mocking Scandinavian style (...); Seagull laughter brings an Icelandic legend down to earth. "
"The film balances between dark and light, warm and cold, just like an Icelandic year."
"Pearl on the well-stocked drama shelf."
Awards
Seagull Laughter was Iceland's entry to the 2002 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, but was ultimately not accepted as a candidate. The film was also awarded six Edda Film Awards (including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress). Ugla Egilsdóttir received the award for Best Actress at the Czech International Film Festival Karlovy Vary in 2002 for her impersonation of the young Agga . Möwengelächter won the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Nordic Film Days Lübeck .
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languages
Möwengelächter is available in Icelandic with English , German , Danish , French and Czech subtitles.