The Dance

The Dance

1998 · 83 min · ★ 6.2 · Drama, Comedy

Águst Guðmundsson directed this Icelandic period drama, adapted from the short story We Must Dance by William Heinesen, and set on an island in 1913. Pétur (Gunnar Helgason) narrates, recalling the days when mainlanders arrived for a wedding. Flirtatious Sirsa (Pálína Jónsdottir) marries Harald (Dofri Hermannsson), son of a wealthy landowner on the island. Offshore, a ship is sinking, so the men form a rescue party, returning with the captain, the engineer, and several sailors. With a storm gathering, the engineer dies. The clergyman requests an end to the festivities as a mark of respect. Sirsa protests, but her new husband brings the celebration to a halt. The group then fragments into different activities, drunken or otherwise, and the sensual Sirsa directs her attention toward the handsome Ívar (Baldur Trausti Hreinsson). The film's score features traditional folk music.

Directed by Ágúst Guðmundsson · Written by Kristín Atladóttir

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Cast

Gunnar Helgason Pétur
Joi Johannsson Vítus
Benedikt Erlingsson Hólófernes
Baldur Trausti Hreinsson Ívar
Magnús Ólafsson Sýslumaður
Gísli Halldórsson Nikulás
Pálína Jónsdóttir Sirsa
Dofri Hermannsson Haraldur
Arnar Jónsson Djákni
Þórunn Magnea Magnúsdóttir Móðir Haraldar
Björk Jakobsdóttir Theodóra
Guðrún Þ. Stephensen Sjómannsekkja

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The Dance

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