Heartstone – Hjartasteinn (2016)

Directed by: Gusmundur Arnar Gusmundsson | 126 minutes | drama | Actors: Baldur Einarsson, Blær Hinriksson, Diljá Valsdóttir, Katla Njálsdóttir, Jónína Þórdís Karlsdóttir, Rán Ragnarsdóttir, Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnardóttir, Gunnarsódóttir, Nnna Krissón Erdóttir, Sveinn Ólafur Gunnardóttir, Mallard

‘Heartstone’, Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson’s debut film (1982), is partly based on his own experiences as a boy growing up in an Icelandic fishing village. No time is given, but the lack of, for example, modern game computers and mobile phones suggests that Gudmundsson set the story in his own childhood, so let’s say: early nineties. The film focuses on two young boys who, during a long, lazy summer, try to find their place in a fairly secluded village community.

Thor (debutant Baldur Einarsson) and Kristján (Blær Hinriksson) are two friends who often spend their summer time together. Thor is on the brink of puberty. The interest in sex is already there, but he has great difficulty with his lack of pubic hair. His insecurity is reinforced by his two older sisters, Hafdís (Rán Ragnarsdóttir) and Rakel (Jónína Þórdís Karlsdóttir), who like to bully him. Kristján is a bit further in his physical development, but is ashamed of something else. He is a homosexual in a village teeming with homophobia. He doesn’t even dare to tell his best friend, for whom he clearly has feelings.

It is a pity that Guðmundsson chooses to mainly outline Thor’s development. Dramatically speaking, Kristján’s struggle alone is much more interesting, but he comes off a little thin. Almost everything revolves around Thor’s fragile infatuation with fellow villager Beta (Diljá Valsdóttir). To help his boyfriend get in touch with her, Kristján pretends to be interested in her best friend Hanna (Katla Njálsdóttir) so that the four of them can go out on a regular basis. Thor in turn is mainly concerned with himself. He dismisses Kristján’s attempts at sexual advances as madness. Because that’s the usual way to hold your own in a community where differentness is condemned. (People from outside are also mistrusted.)

Guðmundsson knows how to counter boredom. It already starts with a scene in which Thor, Kristján and a few other boys are hanging out at the quay when suddenly a school of fish swims by. Killing the fish turns out to be a real feast for some of the boys. There are seemingly few other ways to indulge their lusts. Thor’s family situation has also been hit particularly hard. There is a lot of bickering among themselves, but the children manage to find each other again in their horror of their dating mother (whom they sincerely call ‘slut’, because what will the other villagers think). Due to the natural play of the mostly young actors, the interactions between them are completely credible.

In addition, the film looks beautiful. And that is undoubtedly in large part thanks to Director of Photography Sturla Brandth Grøvlen (known for ‘Victoria’ and ‘Rams’, both from 2015 among others). Just like in ‘Rams’, Grøvlen knows how to portray Icelandic nature in an excellent way. In addition, the languid summer sun plays a stimulating role this time. It doesn’t seem to get really sweltering in Iceland, but the light is probing and tender. Close-ups of bits of fabric, eyelashes, and longing glances give a good image translation of the buzzing hormones.

No matter how beautiful things look, with a playing time of more than two hours, the film starts to drag a bit here and there. Moreover, the print loses focus because Guðmundsson tries to give too many people from the village community their own story. ‘Heartstone’ is a fine debut, but it could all be a bit more accurate. The film is beautiful at times, but it would only have been a relief if a different perspective had been chosen. Now it remains just another coming-of-age story centered around a heterosexual boy. And that’s especially unfortunate because Guðmundsson does seem to have an eye for more.