neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Seagull's Laughter
	Ágúst Guðmundsson Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir, Ugla Egilsdóttir, Heino Ferch, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Kristbjörg Kjeld, Edda Björg Eyjölfsdóttir, Guðlaug Ólafsdóttir, Eyvindur Erlendsson 2001		How a tiny, underpopulated country like Iceland can produce a film as large in quality and appeal as "The Seagull's Laughter" is a mystery that doesn't require solving. One should simply sit back and enjoy this strange delight from director/co-screenwriter Ágúst Guðmundsson. Set in 1954, "The Seagull's Laughter" is a light-to-dark ensemble comedy that mixes romance, a coming-of-age story and tragedy with mythic underpinnings. The beautiful, enigmatic Freyja, played with hauteur by alluring Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir, shows up unannounced in an Icelandic fishing village and throws the lives of the citizens into tumult. In fact, Freyja is native to the area; she's a formerly chubby girl who ran away to marry an American serviceman. A widow under shadowy circumstances, she's back to reconnect with her initially shocked family. She moves into her grandparents' already crowded home, impressing everyone with tales of her glamorous life in New York City. The only truly leery relative is precocious 11-year-old Agga (Ugla Egilsdóttir). But soon, even Agga is under the spell that Freyja weaves. In search of a new husband, Freyja sets her sights on well-to-do bachelor Björn. He's already engaged to a patrician local woman, but Freyja is not to be underestimated. With its quirky cast and scenario and stark, lovely terrain, "The Seagull's Laughter" resonates beyond the norm.


	Sunday, November 17, 2024





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