101 Reykjavík (2000)

There are no new horizons in this film. Yes, there are quite a few perhaps talented young fellows who have a difficulty to adapt to mature life, to get a job, to get a stable relationship, financial independence. Haven't you known that already? But there is a novelty: a middle-aged mum comes out of the closet and declares her lesbian preference. Hang on, though: could you imagine a dad coming out of the closet? Probably yes, but then the emphasis of the film would have been very different. I mean, I'm somewhat suspicious about this lesbian line: isn't it just another sexy (literally and figuratively speaking), saucy attraction added to the film, for its own sake? Hardly anyone, presumably, would be curious to watch middle-aged or old men engaged in gay sex. Not so with women. Likewise, I've never been to Reykjavik, but I'm stunned to discover the apparently large number of lesbian or bi-sexual girls in its pubs. The asymmetry with homosexual men is obvious. So I have my doubts about this film's realism, or more exactly, its cynical exploitation of basic instincts. The film pretends to be a comedy. But it fails. As far as I'm concerned, there's just one genuinely funny moment---the scene with the parking inspector. All the rest are only *supposed* to be funny. A positive moment, however, is that they are not tasteless still. If it's a failed comedy, does it deliver a message? Hardly. Except possibly one: Hlynur eventually finds the job. That could be a serious message, if Hlynur were described as a rebel at the beginning. Which he isn't. Hence the film doesn't aspire to be anything but a comedy, and in that department it fails, I believe.

Now, you might think that such a mediocre film should have poor acting. You are wrong! Oddly enough, the acting is of very good quality. Guonason is perfect, entirely natural, and other leading actors are quite decent. I'm no great fan of Victoria Abril, but she does a good job too. To sum up: watch this film after a busy day and go to bed. Rating: 6.5.

Fmovies: In the pop song "Lola", the band The Kinks sing about a romantic encounter between a young man and a possible transvestite. The innocent enough sounding song, but is in many ways the perfect theme song for 101 Reykavik by Baltasar Kormakur. This movie follows Hlynur, a 29- year-old man who still lives with his mom whose days blend by in a succession of drug filled weekends and days spent at the computer, but are quickly turned upside down with the arrival of his mom's new girlfriend--Lola. Once the love triangle develops between Lola, his mom, and Hylnur, the boy-man finds his life changing drastically.

Reykavik, both the title of the movie, the setting for the story, and the hometown for the director, is a small Icelandic town under the oppression of winter. Hylnur, played by Hilmir Snær Guðnason, though on the edge of turning 30 is perpetually living as if he was 17, and feels as if he is oppressed as much by the town as his own lack of ambition. His mother's house, a small cupboard of an apartment where a bath doubles as a couch, is the entirety of his world. His universe only expands to the local pub during the weekends, where he drinks with the same group of people. There is no better description of his character then to say he is sleeping through his life.

The movie is almost repetitious to a fault, but perhaps that is the point; by midway through the movie, the viewer feels like they themselves are bored to tears by the cyclical nature of the scenes. Hylnur spends his days at the house and pub; desperate women search for love only to be insulted by Hylnur and his friends, and Reykavik remains buried in the snow and dark. However, the movie is very self-aware of this: best categorized in the scene where at a holiday dinner, where the family actually sits and watches a video of the previous year's dinner party with the same people parroting identical phrases.

While low budget, Guðnason makes excellent use of lighting and setting to reflect and parallel the story and tone of the movie. At the start, Reykavik is cold, dark, and snowy; the weather reflects the mood and feelings of the characters. As the movie moves along, the snow melts, the days grow longer, there is more lighting in the shots, new life is breathed into the characters. Mirroring the thaw of routine, and the creation of new life as prominent characters become pregnant.

Upon viewing of this movie, it can become easy to be disgusted and distracted by the gratuitous scenes of sex and drugs--often included for comedic value-- and miss the central points the film tries to convey. While these scenes do detract from the overall message, 101 Reykavik hits uncomfortable nerves. Can a person have a second rebirth? While no one who watches this film could ever possess the lack of ambition of Hylnur, there is a common feeling that one falls into ruts that cannot be broken. We feel like we are just passive recipients of life, just participants in events beyond our control. In this sense the movie is redeeming--much like Hylnur experiences--what takes us out of ruts and makes us feel like we are once again "living life' is what pushes us out of our comfort zone and into uncharted territory.

In many ways, the fundamental judges of a movie such as 101 Reykavik is whether or not the viewer enjoys viewing it or it stimulates thought. On these grounds, the movie succeeds with flying colors. The comedic aspects most often do fall short, but the movie stands on other grounds. It makes one examine their ow

Sexy Spaniard Victoria Abril heats up the wintry city of Reykjavík in 101 Reykjavík. Icelandic slacker Hlynur (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) lives on welfare with his mother, leading a depressed and aimless existence. His mother invites her flamenco teacher, Lola (Abril), to live with them; while his mother is away for New Year's Eve, Hlynur and Lola have a drunken fling. But upon her return, Hlynur's mother tells him that she and Lola are lesbian lovers--and it soon comes out that she and Lola are going to have a baby together. 101 Reykjavík seems to be the contemporary Icelandic version of American movies of the 1970s like Five Easy Pieces, in which anti heroic characters struggle to make sense of a world that doesn't seem to have any place for them. The movie is a bit unfocused, but its urban malaise feels genuine, if not particularly new. Abril is delightful, as always.

101 Reykjavík fmovies. This more or less seems to become a new trend: European countries – not particularly known for their rich history in film-making – surprise the world with semi-artistic movies telling us how boring life is in this particular country. F*cking Amal did so for Sweden…and 101 Reykjavik represents Iceland's pride and joy. I really like the lackadaisical tone of this film and especially the main character Hlynur is great! I love these Icelandic names, by the way…and the language is lovely! Anyway, Hlynur is a 30 something single man who gives cigarettes to 4-year-olds and daydreams about butchering his closest relatives with a shotgun…on Christmas day! He still lives with his mother while he already looks forward to drawing a pension. Oh, he also occasionally bangs his mother's Flamenco dance-teacher. Her name is Lola and every time her name is mentioned the song by The Kinks can be heard on a harmonica, which is rather funny. Anyway, Hlynur doesn't know that Lola is the lesbian toygirl of his mother…Just your typical day in 101 Reykjavik.

101 Reykjavik is very funny, only because the main character is such a loser! And everybody knows is a lot more interesting to observe a loser instead of a fake action hero, right? The different subjects handled in this film all may look very controversial, but the terrific use of black humor and satire makes it a lot easier to digest. And, it must be said, the film features a few extremely ingenious findings! In a brilliantly comical scene, Hlynur irritates a traffic warden by putting extra coins in every parking meter so that he can't write a single ticket. I'd certainly recommend this film, as long as you're not expecting an authentic masterpiece. It's clever, creative and filled with nudity (male and female). If they made one lesson clear with this movie, it's: don't ever settle in Iceland!

I saw the film 101Reykjavik during one of my sessions as a projectionist at a movie theater in Helsingborg. I had no previous knowledge of the film neither had I heard anything about it, but boy was I in for a treat.

Although the movie seems incomplete story wise, the characters and the dialog is superb and some of the plot twists make you fall out of the chair in laughter. So despite the lack in story development the overall experience is great. The music (by among others Damon Albarn) compliments the pictures wonderfully with its playful themes of the old classic "Lola". It is really a variation of the old "Slacker" theme but it is done without any moral judgement on the characters. Some people aren't ment to become important and some are. Hlynur (the protagonist) is constantly torn between his selfconscious criticism of the world and the inevitable fact that he has to live in it and he gets by as best as he can. Would the story had been allowed to develop even further the movie would have been the ultimate voice of the "Slacker" generation but since it falls short the best one can do is just take it for what it is and enjoy.

I would warmly recommend the movie to everyone under 35, the older generations might want to check out something else.

This film is a fresh look at life itself. Being set in an unfamiliar environment, it gives the viewer a chance to see what might be an otherwise familiar story with a fresh set of eyes. Well, okay, strictly speaking, the story IS a little unusual, but that's not my point.

There are a few things you should probably know about Reykjavik before you see this movie. It's not really very cold, for one thing. Sitting out at the end of the Gulf Stream, it has very temperate weather, rarely above 72F (20C) in summer and typically around 30F (-2C) in winter. You could probably get by in a sweater most of the year, at least in the city. (Far away from the city, in the uninhabited middle of the country, you'll find a couple of active volcanoes and the largest glacier in Europe.) For another thing, it's an amazingly alcoholic place. When we were there, beer (well, weak beer, anyway) was sold in soda machines. People drink until they pass out in public, especially when getting primed for 3-day weekends (bank holidays), and it's not considered shameful -- their more conscious drunken friends just help carry them to the bus/airplane/car. People line up around the block to get into discos, even in the summer when it's light 22 hours a day. These people party hearty. If this seems like a conflict with what is supposed to be a predominantly Lutheran country, it might be, but nobody seems to let it bother them too much. But, back to the movie...

This movie is both a frank look at this gleefully debauched ambiance, and a more personal look at our hero, Hlynur. For the sake of discussion, let's call him a fully-grown bird yet to leave the nest. You could describe this movie a number of glib ways, none of which would be truly accurate. "Coming-of-age." "Self-discovery." "Rebirth." "The meaning of life." "Sex, drugs, and Rock 'n Roll."

What it is is funny. Really funny. Hlynur is sort of an existential being, and the world mostly happens to him. He's not sure why and not sure what it means. Should he find it tragic, incomprehensible, or just funny? For him, comfortable in the ennui of his unchallenging existence, these disturbances are a bit of a challenge. For us, the audience, what it is is seriously entertaining!

The directing is terrific. The acting is excellent. Victoria Abril is a treat, as usual, but the rest of the mostly Icelandic cast manages to keep up. And the endless "Lola" remixes are hilarious. A lot of fun, highly recommended.