A White, White Day – Hvítur, hvítur dagur (2019)

Directed by: Hlynur Palmason | 109 minutes | drama | Actors: Ingvar Sigurdsson, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir, Björn Ingi Hilmarsson, Elma Stefania Agustsdottir, Haraldur Stefansson, Laufey Elíasdóttir, Argurnirsróttir,

Should there be an annual prize for the most unorthodox opening scene, we hereby nominate the Icelandic film ‘A White, White Day’. In it we first see how a car drives into the depths unconcerned and controlled. Then, in an endless sequence, we see a remote house at different tides and hours. Sometimes the sun shines on the house, sometimes it is in the snow, sometimes there are some ponies in the garden and sometimes, very occasionally, there is human activity. Strangely enough, this moving slideshow never gets boring. And that goes for the entire movie, really.

In ‘A White, White Day’ we meet widower Ingimundur, a policeman who recently lost his wife in a car accident. Exempt from work, he is now mainly busy rebuilding a house, often accompanied by his cheerful 8-year-old granddaughter Salka. Once a week he speaks to a psychologist, and at first sight everything seems to be going well. But beneath the calm surface, Ingimundur is devastated by lack and by the suspicion that his wife cheated on him towards the end of her life.

At an attractively slow pace, we witness the downward spiral into which the former police officer finds himself. We understand his frustration at his weekly talk with the psychologist, we understand when a hysterical children’s program almost drives him to a frenzy. Almost, for for a long time Ingimundur’s true feelings are hidden under a calm appearance and we can only see how he is by his actions.

Although the story of this Icelandic drama never becomes very special, ‘A White, White Day’ is an attractive film. Visually, there is much to enjoy, making inventive use of the desolate Icelandic landscape. The relationship between grandfather and granddaughter is endearing, with Salka inadvertently bringing her grandfather back from his worries. Furthermore, the film has a nice rhythm, from the compelling opening sequence to the last images. And in the end the film also becomes exciting, but in the Scandinavian way.

With ‘A White, White Day’ the relatively young screenwriter/director Hlynur Palmason shows once again that you can deliver a fascinating, compelling and eye-pleasing work with minimal means. Never spectacular, never sky-shattering, but enjoyable from start to finish.