Based on a novel by Arnaldur Indriðason Jar City is a very effective crime thriller to come Iceland. With it's grim direction, complex characters and unflinching realism it was an excellent little film in a 90 minute package.
Erlendur (Ingvar E. Sigurðsson) is a senior police officer from Reykjavík, assigned to investigate the murder of an elderly man Horland (Þorsteinn Gunnarsson), leading him onto a trail of rape, organised crime, murder and police corruption in rural Iceland. Erlendur to has to deal with his drug addicted daughter, Eva (Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir), who is knocked-up and in trouble with local gangsters. At the same time a genetic researcher Örn (Atli Rafn Sigurðsson), suffering from grief of the death of his young daughter researches the family trees of people to find the source of the genetic disorder that killed her.
Under the direction of Baltasar Kormákur, Jar City is a dark complex film with a multi-layered plot. Throughout the film Kormakur keeps a sombre tone, using natural light whenever possible and used the baron landscape of Iceland to great effect. Kormakur when he needed to slow the film down to allow the actors to show their characters and speed up the investigation when he needs to. He keeps the film feeling natural, looking at tragedy like the death of a child in a sensitive and sad manner. The film was realistic, with neither heroes or villains being typical characters and Kormakur does not cut any corners, like a chase in a swamp. He uses hand-held cameras and an operatic score to add to his emotional power of the film.
With Indriðason writing the script Kormakur make a tort film, fitting a complex plot effectively in a short running time. Admittedly some of the subplots seems to be shorten, with Örn's investigation being overlooked but we still get to see the buck of the story.
There is also excellent performances in the film, with Ingvar E. Sigurðsson particularly worthy of note in the lead role, playing a skilled investigator with a lot of personal baggage, suffering from moments of kindness and ruthlessness. Atli Rafn Sigurðsson too was very good, and had a touching scene early in the film with his dying daughter. Erlendsdóttir also gave a grounded performance as a woman trying fight a drug addiction and reconnect her father.
A very worthy film, great for anyone who loves crimes thrillers.
Erlendur (Ingvar E. Sigurðsson) is a senior police officer from Reykjavík, assigned to investigate the murder of an elderly man Horland (Þorsteinn Gunnarsson), leading him onto a trail of rape, organised crime, murder and police corruption in rural Iceland. Erlendur to has to deal with his drug addicted daughter, Eva (Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir), who is knocked-up and in trouble with local gangsters. At the same time a genetic researcher Örn (Atli Rafn Sigurðsson), suffering from grief of the death of his young daughter researches the family trees of people to find the source of the genetic disorder that killed her.
Under the direction of Baltasar Kormákur, Jar City is a dark complex film with a multi-layered plot. Throughout the film Kormakur keeps a sombre tone, using natural light whenever possible and used the baron landscape of Iceland to great effect. Kormakur when he needed to slow the film down to allow the actors to show their characters and speed up the investigation when he needs to. He keeps the film feeling natural, looking at tragedy like the death of a child in a sensitive and sad manner. The film was realistic, with neither heroes or villains being typical characters and Kormakur does not cut any corners, like a chase in a swamp. He uses hand-held cameras and an operatic score to add to his emotional power of the film.
With Indriðason writing the script Kormakur make a tort film, fitting a complex plot effectively in a short running time. Admittedly some of the subplots seems to be shorten, with Örn's investigation being overlooked but we still get to see the buck of the story.
There is also excellent performances in the film, with Ingvar E. Sigurðsson particularly worthy of note in the lead role, playing a skilled investigator with a lot of personal baggage, suffering from moments of kindness and ruthlessness. Atli Rafn Sigurðsson too was very good, and had a touching scene early in the film with his dying daughter. Erlendsdóttir also gave a grounded performance as a woman trying fight a drug addiction and reconnect her father.
A very worthy film, great for anyone who loves crimes thrillers.