Heartstone
2016 · Directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
Original language: Icelandic
- romance
- drama
The story
A remote fishing village in Iceland. Teenage boys Thór and Kristján experience a turbulent summer as one tries to win the heart of a girl while the other discovers new feelings toward his best friend. When summer ends and the harsh nature of Iceland takes back its rights, it's time to leave the playground and face adulthood.
What it’s like
Soft Nordic summer light that barely dims at night, with pale blue-grey skies over a fishing village, grassy slopes running down to cold water, and a palette of muted greens, weathered red and white houses, and washed-out denim. The camera stays close and patient on faces and hands, often in quiet handheld observation, letting long pauses breathe between dialogue; the score is sparse and wistful, with near-silence broken by wind, gulls and the lap of the sea. Its vibe is tender and wistful, a bittersweet ache that drifts toward the bittersweet melancholy of growing up. It suits a slow weekend afternoon, a quiet evening alone, or anyone wanting to sit with a summer that feels both endless and already slipping away. The pacing is unhurried and observational, and the emotional register is restrained, with the tension of first crushes, jealousy and half-spoken feelings carried more by glances than by big scenes. The arc follows two teenage friends whose bond shifts under the pull of first love and self-discovery as the season ends. Intensity is low: some awkward teenage sexuality and emotional confrontation, but no violence or gore. For viewers who want coming-of-age stories with gentle realism, a sense of place, and LGBT teen romance handled with quiet sincerity.
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