In the midst of the headaches, UBIs (unidentified beer injuries) and the worrying reflection that come after freshers, why not sit in front of the telly and immerse yourself in rural Iceland where two estranged brothers, Kiddi (Theódór Júlíusson) and Gummi (Sigurður Sigurjónsson), embark on a mission to save their sheep from the relentless and brutal force of the Icelandic agricultural enforcement.
Icelandic agricultural enforcement? Yes. Boring? Quite the opposite.
In fact, in the film titled ‘Rams’ (2015), where the dialogue is as minimalist as the landscape, there is enough unspoken love between the two brothers (for the family on two legs or four) to melt an Icelandic glacier. Although this does not seem to be the case at the beginning of the award-winning wry drama, it is your job as the audience to make their relationship what you will.
Cut to the Bárðardalur valley where the film immediately introduces the elusive relationship between the two brothers. Their unceremonious and brief interactions beg the question of context. Why do they have this relationship? Is it a standard brotherly rivalry? A girl? Director Grímur Hákonarson transcends the brutal environment as if to circle on the similarities between it and the disjointed siblings.
Both proud owners of their flocks of sheep, they are soon to learn of their shared life-threatening problem. One of Kiddi’s sheep is found to have scrapie, a fatal and highly contagious disease found in cattle. They now must make a decision. Follow the Icelandic agricultural guidelines and slaughter the sheep… or is there another way?
As the movie progresses, the small, almost insignificant storyline creeps up on you. It maintains aspects of northerly British humour in an attempt to whittle the audience down to the bare bones of the film – a film of love, snarky remarks and tragedy. Critically quoted to be a ‘rare beast of a film’, it may leave you with more questions than answers – but perhaps that’s the beauty of this unsung masterpiece.
Critically quoted to be a ‘rare beast of a film’, it may leave you with more questions than answers – but perhaps that’s the beauty of this unsung masterpiece.
When confronted with a problem that could destroy the livelihood of all sheep farmers in the community, actors Theódór Júlíusson and Sigurður Sigurjónsson brilliantly attempt to put Iceland on the map for world cinema. A world that seems far away, is brought closer to home.
If anything, give this film a go. Indulge the subtitles that five minutes into the film seem unnoticeable and have something to talk about in next week’s visit to, well, The Ram on campus.
