The Dance

Overview

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.

Keywords

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