Exploring the darker facet of Icelandic folklore, Lamb manages to be gently tragic, comedic and creepy to nice impact
“What did he say?
‘Something about folk tales I think…’”
Written by erstwhile Björk collaborator Sjón and Valdimar Jóhannsson (who additionally directs), Lamb actually is a kind of movies that advantages from realizing as little as attainable about it beforehand. We meet Maria (Noomi Rapace) and Ingvar (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) as they have an inclination their Icelandic farm in ruminative silence, we perceive that they’re coping with a horrible grief. And past that, you actually ought to simply watch the movie to get wrapped up into its unusual however in the end compelling world.
Something odd occurs of their barn and the surprising penalties are compounded by a questionable resolution from the couple. It is one which results in some happiness for them however after all, nothing is kind of that simple. The great thing about Jóhannsson’s route is in the best way by which he withholds very important data in order that key reveals – after they come – have an preliminary jolt however via the depth of efficiency from Rapace and Snær Guðnason, there’s no actual shock at what we now know (for probably the most half).
Eli Arenson’s cinematography makes nice use of the agricultural, rugged panorama, the selection of lengthy, lingering photographs suiting the reflective temper of the movie completely. And the sound design and Þórarinn Guðnason’s music ensures the atmospherics stay moody and infrequently off-kilter because the irregular appears to develop into regular, while patently being completely not regular. The cumulative impact is beguiling and while I can see how some would discover its strangeness and sparseness difficult, it actually labored for me.
Rapace and Snær Guðnason are each wonderful, working via what is perhaps their trauma in several methods however each completely convincing as they take us gently by the hand to guide us down this unlikely path. And there’s wonderful work from the ever-excellent Björn Hlynur Haraldsson as Ingvar’s brother-with-a-pop-star-past Pétur, throwing into query what actually is regular or pure in spite of everything. An surprising pleasure.