Devil's Island

Rating:
Summary: A masterly, performance based, bittersweet comedy
Review: After the breathtaking winter landscapes that flooded Fridrik Thor Fridrikkson's previous movie 'Cold Fever' (Iceland/Japan 1995), 'Devil's Island' comes as something of a change. This film is certainly more character based and has a higher level of social commentary and comedy but does not forget the lyricism of his previous work, or his most famous film, the Oscar nominated 'Children of Nature'. In a makeshift housing estate of nissan huts, following the 2nd World War one extended Icelandic family cope with drink, rock'n'roll, sex, death and a liitle dash of madness. Capped by two fantastic performances, some stunning photography and a bizzare soundtrack 'Devil's Island' is well worth buying, crying over, laughing over, and watching again.

Rating:
Summary: A masterly, performance based, bittersweet comedy
Review: After the breathtaking winter landscapes that flooded Fridrik Thor Fridrikkson's previous movie 'Cold Fever' (Iceland/Japan 1995), 'Devil's Island' comes as something of a change. This film is certainly more character based and has a higher level of social commentary and comedy but does not forget the lyricism of his previous work, or his most famous film, the Oscar nominated 'Children of Nature'. In a makeshift housing estate of nissan huts, following the 2nd World War one extended Icelandic family cope with drink, rock'n'roll, sex, death and a liitle dash of madness. Capped by two fantastic performances, some stunning photography and a bizzare soundtrack 'Devil's Island' is well worth buying, crying over, laughing over, and watching again.

Rating:
Summary: Rock 'n Roll comes to Iceland
Review: I saw this movie ca. 1995 in Oslo with Norwegian subtitles, the only Icelandic movie I know and a shame I haven't had the chance to see others. The movie depicts the relative wealth and attractiveness of American servicemen from Keflavik in the context of the extreme poverty of Icelanders living in an old quanset hut. The Icelanders can, of course, speak some English and the Americans can, also realistically, speak no Icelandic. Big, loud old American cars, rock and roll, and the desire to escape the crushing poverty. The film is memorable, and for another Icelandic viewpoint on the early drive toward globalization, read "The Atom Station" by Haldor Laxness.

Icelandic is a beautiful language, essentially the Norwegian of a thousand years ago, the Viking era. I don't understand it but wish I did!

Rating:
Summary: Rock 'n Roll comes to Iceland
Review: I saw this movie ca. 1995 in Oslo with Norwegian subtitles, the only Icelandic movie I know and a shame I haven't had the chance to see others. The movie depicts the relative wealth and attractiveness of American servicemen from Keflavik in the context of the extreme poverty of Icelanders living in an old quanset hut. The Icelanders can, of course, speak some English and the Americans can, also realistically, speak no Icelandic. Big, loud old American cars, rock and roll, and the desire to escape the crushing poverty. The film is memorable, and for another Icelandic viewpoint on the early drive toward globalization, read "The Atom Station" by Haldor Laxness.

Icelandic is a beautiful language, essentially the Norwegian of a thousand years ago, the Viking era. I don't understand it but wish I did!

Rating:
Summary: Escaping Icelandic Poverty...
Review: In the years after World War II the American military forces keep a base on an Icelandic island, however, they move it away from Reykjavik. The abandoned barracks are offered to the homeless of Iceland as they can seek shelter from the biting winters. The Devil's Island depicts the poor people in this area, where they live, and how they deal with daily struggles where hope of leaving seems like a wishful dream. Nonetheless, there are always ways of escaping the nagging pain of poverty, and those who escape the social environment are either hated or adored. Devil's Island is an interesting film about a situation that many never would have known of unless Fridrikkson directed this film, which offers a good cinematic experience.

Rating:
Summary: Escaping Icelandic Poverty...
Review: In the years after World War II the American military forces keep a base on an Icelandic island, however, they move it away from Reykjavik. The abandoned barracks are offered to the homeless of Iceland as they can seek shelter from the biting winters. The Devil's Island depicts the poor people in this area, where they live, and how they deal with daily struggles where hope of leaving seems like a wishful dream. Nonetheless, there are always ways of escaping the nagging pain of poverty, and those who escape the social environment are either hated or adored. Devil's Island is an interesting film about a situation that many never would have known of unless Fridrikkson directed this film, which offers a good cinematic experience.