A period drama set in Iceland has been praised as « a masterful piece of filmmaking » by cinema enthusiasts, and it’s currently available on BBC iPlayer. Taking place in the late 19th century, the 2022 film features Elliott Crosset Hove as Lucas, a Lutheran priest from Denmark who is dispatched to Iceland to establish a new parish.
Yet as he ventures deeper into the harsh terrain, he increasingly loses grip on his perception of reality, his calling and his sense of purpose. Running for almost 150 minutes, this production is presented in Danish and Icelandic and was both written and directed by Hlynur Pálmason. The cast includes Elliott Crosset Hove as Lucas, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson as Ragnar, Jacob Lohmann as Carl, Vic Carmen Sonne as Anna, and Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir as Ida.
Godland has garnered considerable acclaim and boasts a remarkable 92 per cent rating on film enthusiast platform Rotten Tomatoes, where glowing reviews and five-star assessments continue to accumulate.
One critic noted: « A relaxing film that really draws you in with all of it’s space and long drawn-out shots. Amazing cinematography with beautiful landscapes, shot with a lovely film aesthetic. Hard to to believe this was made in 2022 and not the 80s. I really enjoyed this. »
Another commented: « Another tragic tale set in a sleepy, picturesque village – I am all for it. Some will find its pace too slow and quiet but I drifted with it, frame by frame, one stir at a time. Let the contexts on colonialism do the clamor through Elliott Crosset Hove’s performance.
« And Maria von Hausswolff – The Academy may have snubbed you but not me. Your work, especially in Godland, blew me away and right off the hills of Iceland. The framing and the beauty in every still shot and panning. You put the godland in Godland. Just beautiful. »
« Truly a masterful piece of filmmaking, that is very much recommended for any lover of film, and one of the best films of the year to be sure! » enthused another reviewer.
A third commented: « This one is the real thing. Don’t miss it. It’s as close to a masterpiece as we’re likely to get this year. »
Nevertheless, not every critic was won over, with some noting its sluggish pace and thin plot. One scathing one-star review stated: « A movie with good photography, but that’s it. It literally has no story and just tries to make fun of Christians, which is apparently the entire point of the movie, by making the lead character stupid. »
Another wrote: « Slow and exhausting film. Formal work with wonderful photography but everything feels like a cinema laboratory without involving. »
A further critic remarked: « Boring and depressing; apart from a few fleeting views of a river the landscape was as desolate as the film, ».
Godland is now available on BBC iPlayer.
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