Deep dive into Icelandic films with the podcast Kvikmyndapod

I love podcasts and audiobooks. I commute almost exclusively by bike, and every time I get on my bike, I look forward to listening to something. There are a few great Iceland-focused podcasts out there. I interviewed the wonderful Jewells Chambers, who has the entertaining and informative podcast All things Iceland. Then there is Kvikmyndapod by Rob Watts and Ellie Cawthorne, who focus entirely on Icelandic films from the 21st century. I love the perspective they bring to Icelandic films. So they often comment on or point out little features of Icelandic culture that we Icelanders take for granted. This feature of Kvikmyndapod is especially enjoyable.

I would love to get their take on Icelandic films or TV shows made in the early eighties, which often were very dark in their subjects and tone. The notable exception is a few comedies and the classic take on one of the Icelandic Sagas called Útlaginn (The Outlaw) from 1982.

I cherry-pick the episodes of Kvikmyndapod that cover films that I have especially enjoyed. So I have listened to the episodes on Rams, I Remember you, and next up on my listening list are the episodes on Jar City, Under the Tree, and Woman at War. As for the podcast’s name, Kvikmyndapod, Kvikmynd means ‘film’ in Icelandic.

How did the idea for the Kvikmyndapod podcast come about?

Rob:

The podcast started as a lockdown project. I’ve had a fascination with Iceland for quite a while, beginning with falling in love with the music of Sigur Rós. Watching their tour film ‘Heima’ introduced me to the beauty of the country’s nature and landscape, and from that moment on, I wanted to visit.

I’ve now visited Iceland five times and I have found more things to enjoy, whether swimming in geothermally heated pools, climbing glaciers, or watching small gigs at venues like Húrra. Being surrounded by such wonderful people, fantastic artists, and fascinating culture is always a pleasure.

The podcast is a result of a few factors; 1) being unable to travel to my favorite country – films are a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and world of a country, 2) wanting to do something productive with all the time trapped at home, and 3) having been a part of the brilliant Evolution of Horror podcast since its inception, I wanted to try my hand at a podcast of my own.

I’m a TV professional, mostly working in quiz shows, while Ellie works as an editor for a popular history magazine. We have been friends for the best of a decade, and Ellie was the first person I thought of when I started the podcast!

It’s been so much fun introducing Ellie (an Iceland newbie) to places and faces over the last two years. She recognizes Icelandic actors and locations she’d never heard of before starting the podcast. We initially recorded remotely but have thankfully been able to record in the same room as each other for a while now and, unbelievably, are currently in the middle of series 4!

Ellie:

As Rob says, we’ve been friends for years now, and we spent a lot of that time going to the cinema together and talking (or fighting!) about movies. So when Rob suggested starting a film podcast, I didn’t take much convincing!

Especially when we were all trapped inside during lockdown, the idea of traveling to distant places I’d never been to was more appealing than ever. And Icelandic films proved to be a great way to visit this amazing country from the boring surroundings of our living rooms!

So why Icelandic films? Why are you so interested in them?

Rob:

As I said, I already enjoyed some of the pop culture from Iceland (the aforementioned Sigu Rós, as well as the inimitable Björk), and so I wanted to delve further into other arts. I had seen Baltasar Kormákur’s ‘Jar City’ at the cinema while I was at university and loved it’s bleak Nordic noir style and its choral-heavy soundtrack. That was pretty much all I knew about Icelandic cinema, but it turned out to be a great starting point!

Since starting the podcast, I’ve become even more interested in Icelandic films as I’m learning so much about Icelandic life past and present, the island’s geography, and the general Icelandic temperament and character.

Ellie:

Yeah, I agree, and I also think it’s worth mentioning what a high caliber of filmmakers Iceland has produced for such a small country. Their cinematic output would rival many much larger countries in terms of quality, so we’ve had plenty to pick from!

Do Icelandic films share characteristics that differentiate them from films from other countries?

Ellie:

Cinema can be a fascinating way to get to grips with the psyche of a nation, and in the Icelandic case, this seems to be especially true. Many of the films we’ve watched have dealt with specifically Icelandic societal issues in a thought-provoking way – things like immigration and addiction, questions of social responsibility in small communities, and the tension between tradition and progressiveness.

But it also strikes me that Icelandic filmmakers are keen to grapple with many of life’s most universal topics. Love, grief, loneliness, and family are all themes we’ve seen come up again and again, and these are themes that I think viewers from anywhere around the globe can connect with.

Rob:

We recently discussed Grímur Hákonarson’s wonderful ‘The County’ (Héraðið) and realized that over the course of four series, we’ve looked at Icelandic farming in quite a lot of detail! Obviously, it’s an incredibly important part of Icelandic life, so it is often a prominent subject in the country’s films. Between us, Ellie and I realized we could think of barely any British films about or featuring farming but could hold up a handful of Icelandic films just since the year 2000 that we’ve actually discussed!

Other elements also stand out as being typically Icelandic to us, like the use of choirs and choral music in beautiful and often haunting ways. Christmas pops up a lot more than I’ve noticed in non-Christmas films from other countries – but Echo (Bergmál) is now firmly on my annual Christmas film watch list!

Most of all, I think what defines much of Icelandic cinema is comedy. A dark and often imperceptible humor laces many of the scripts we’ve seen, whether it be a film about two feuding elderly farming brothers, a film about unfriendly neighbors, or a documentary about a comedian running for mayor.

The obvious question is, what Icelandic movie is your favorite? Is there an Icelandic film that you dislike?

Ellie:

There are some very strong contenders, but I think I’d have to nominate Benedikt Erlingsson’s Woman At War (2018) as my favorite. It deals with the climate crisis in a way that is inspiring, upbeat and uplifting (which is no easy task), and the cinematography is sumptuous, especially when it comes to Iceland’s glorious natural landscapes. Plus, I absolutely love the oompah band soundtrack!

In terms of my least favorite…. I’m not a huge gore fan, so I might have to opt for Reykjavik Whale-Watching Massacre. But if you like the sound of a gnarly slasher horror set on a grimy, stinking fishing boat, then it’s the film for you!

Rob:

That’s a tough question! I reckon at the moment it’s Hlynur Pálmason’s stunning ‘A White, White Day’ (Hvítur, hvítur dagur). With incredible performances all around, not least of all from our favorite Ingvar Sigurðsson and Pálmason’s own daughter Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir. Their grandfather-daughter relationship is beautifully depicted.

As with every sphere of cinema there are varying levels of quality, but I haven’t seen an Icelandic film I disliked. Iceland has a high hit rate, and the industry is only getting bigger and better as time goes on. I’m hoping for a bit more horror, but I’m mostly excited to see what those Icelandic minds have in store for us next!

What places in Iceland or activities here would you recommend to my readers?

Rob: Oh the list is endless! Reykjavik is a thriving city, full of culture and great food. My first three places to go in the city would be the swimming pool Laugardalslaug (or any other typical geothermally-heated swimming pool), sample the hotdogs from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, and drop into any bar with live music (Húrra, Loft Hostel, KEX Hostel). I would recommend staying at either of the hostels if you’re on a budget and want to get more of a local’s view of the city!

Outside of the city, no matter the time of year Reykjadalur hot springs are worth the mini trek. Crunching through snow to get to the hot river is an experience I will not forget! Driving along the Southern stretch of  Route One is full of fantastic stop-off points, so hire a car and head to Vík then to the Glacier Lagoon at Jökulsárlón, spotting all the waterfalls and the Yoda cave along the way.

Other recommendations include Héraðsskólinn Guesthouse, which is a pretty quick drive from the impressive Gullfoss waterfall and the geysers. For anyone heading to the Westfjords who likes fish, then Tjöruhúsið in Ísafjörður is a cozy buffet restaurant with a delicious selection of seafood.

I’d also say just get involved with anything local, it’s bound to be fun and interesting!

Ellie:

It might sound weird to say, but after watching the chilling horror movie I Remember You, I’m desperate to visit the West Fjords, for their remote, bleak beauty. I think I’ll stay somewhere other than the haunted B&B featured in the movie, though! And, of course, I’d love to visit the lava fields and spectacular landscapes we see in Woman at War!

What advice do you give to people visiting Iceland for the first time?

Rob:

’m always amazed at the infrastructure that gets tourists to their hotel/guesthouse, so don’t be afraid to jump on the waiting bus outside the airport and tell them where you need to go! For a short trip I would suggest joining a Classic Golden Circle tour, and not hiring a car. For longer stays and for heading out and about a lot do hire a car, it’s worth the full expense for peace of mind and much more of an opportunity to see the Northern Lights and find lesser-known nature spots.

Again, thinking back to my solo trips which were somewhat on a budget, there is a car-sharing website called Samferda that means you can travel around the country for less money, meet interesting people, do your bit for the environment, and you don’t have to drive!

Oh, and I always take a trip down to Sundlaugin, the music studio owned by Sigur Rós in Mosfellsbær, just for the fun of it! It’s an old, converted swimming pool where the band and many others record their albums, and if you ask nicely, you might get to see inside or spot an amazing musician. I lucked out and met Of Monsters and Men in the sweet little café next door!

I could go on and on. But I won’t. Instead, I’ll see you over there!

OK – the first round is on me!

Follow Kvikmyndapod on Twitter: @KVIKMYNDAPOD