Directed by:
Benedikt ErlingssonScreenplay:
Benedikt ErlingssonCinematography:
Bergsteinn BjörgúlfssonCast:
Helgi Björnsson, Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, Kristbjörg Kjeld, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Charlotte Bøving, Sigríður María Egilsdóttir, Maria Ellingsen (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
An inventive take on the symbiotic relationship between man and animal, Of Horses and Men is a darkly comic collection of vignettes set in a provincial Icelandic village. Against a breathtaking seaside landscape, a cast of hot-blooded characters struggle to connect with nature and each other. Among them, a pair of wistful human lovers are thwarted by equine libidos, sparking their tentative courtship into action; a determined alcoholic gets his last ride at sea from a surprisingly seaworthy companion; and an adventurous tourist sets off for a leisurely ride on horseback that spirals into a quest for survival. The lines between species blur seamlessly throughout these memorable tales, reflecting love, death and the quirks of human and beast alike. An ode the majestic beauty of horses, lauded stage director Benedikt Erlingsson's film debut captures the passions and idiosyncrasies of a close-knit community and the primal desires hidden within all of us.
Director: Benedikt Erlingsson
(Music Box Films)
Videos (3)
Reviews (5)
A very peculiar story from Iceland flavored with music reminiscent of Emir Kusturica. I genuinely felt sorry for the horses, seeing how terribly their owners sometimes treated them, but on the other hand, the absurdity of some situations really amused me. The height of the monstrosity of the coexistence of man and horse seemed to me to be when, in a snowstorm, a stray young man killed the horse that had carried him on its back all the way, and after eviscerating its entrails, hid in it to survive the cold. Despite such madness, however, the local villagers seemed to genuinely love their horses. I had very mixed feelings while watching the film, but I certainly wasn't bored - I don't think that was possible.
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This film shows the essence of Iceland. You get to see crazy situations, the blending of man and nature, and a proof that Icelanders like their Icelandic type of horse even more than they like themselves. Then there is a string of absurdities where you don’t know whether to cry or laugh. While watching you’re so shocked you forget to laugh. Addin the tons of beautifully gloomy shots of the Icelandic nature, which talk to my soul. Nod bad… it’s crazy and objectivelly would probably deserve three stars but I’ll add the fourth thanks to my enthusiasm for Iceland.
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A horse as both an integrated object of love and a tool. Often to its detriment... The lively music matches the rhythm of trots, canters, and gaits; if there’s any whinnying, it’s rarely of dark humor. After two Icelandic triple measures, the viewer realizes that what is permitted for the lord is not permitted for the commoner. The purity of the Icelandic pony has been preserved for over a thousand years by banning the breeding of other breeds, but from this, it’s unclear whether the same approach benefits the locals. Benedikt Erlingsson's trademarks: the stubbornness of Icelanders, the beauty of the local landscape, and a foreigner on a bicycle.
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This is truly bizarre. It's definitely not a film from the point of view of horses (as the film is presented), although there are more of them in this film than the quirky Icelanders (who are portrayed in the film as really big idiots). Sometimes it's comical, sometimes it's sad or tragic. In any case, it’s weird. However, it is definitely not a film suitable for horse lovers (they would probably run away from the cinema during the scene with the prolapse of the horse's entrails, which happened during the screening I went to). The best prerequisite for enjoying the film is to have a sense of really, really black humor.
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I went in for a dose of Scandinavian black humour, but I really wasn’t expecting this. The jokes run one after the other. Ideal film for horse people.
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Gallery (20)
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