Icelandic cinema is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment. Whilst its golden age was perhaps the turn of the century (101 Reykjavik, Nói albinói, Stormy Weather), the likes of Rams, Of Horses and Men, Woman at War and The County have garnered critical acclaim and wowed audiences around the world. Although Grímur Hákonarson and Benedikt Erlingsson lead the way, with Winter Brothers and now A White, White Day Hlynur Palmason is hot on their heels.
After the accidental death of his wife, Ingimundur (Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson) struggles to come to terms with the loss. As police chief he’s respected in his remote Icelandic town. In order to keep busy, he starts the renovation of a house and spends much of his time looking after his granddaughter (Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir). However, he can’t shake the nagging feeling that his wife was keeping something from him. As Ingimundur’s suspicions grow into an obsession, his behaviour becomes increasingly erratic.
A White, White Day is often uncomfortable to watch but it’s an intricately made and highly rewarding film about grief, loss and guilt. Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson is phenomenal as the inwardly cracking widower. Stoic on the outside, broken in the middle. Palmason opts for minimalism and a measured approach, which allows the plot to settle and slowly simmer. When it does explode into action it’s brutal and blunt. A White, White Day is a tense and icy drama.
A White, White Day is released on digital by Peccadillo Pics on 3 July.
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