Festivals
After doing the whole tourism Vancouver gig this summer, I'm really hooked up to the concept of actually living in this city that we inhabit. I mean, all the festivals we have on right now are just excellent. And puts you in the mood of the fall season. The chill weather, for cuddling up with books, and steamy mugs, in warm spaces. All this as
( Read more... )
Beowulf and Grendel
[BEOWU]
Canada, Iceland, UK, 2005, 104 min, 35mm
Directed By: Sturla Gunnarsson
EXEC PROD: James Simpson, Peter James, Alex Marshall, James D. Stern, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson
PROD: Paul Stephens, Eric Jordan, Sturla Gunnarsson , Anna Maria Karlsdottir, Jason Piette, Michael Lionello Cowan
SCR: Andrew Rai Berzins
CAM: Jan Kiesser
ED: Jeff Warren
MUS: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
CAST: Gerard Butler, Stellan Skarsgård, Sarah Polley, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Eddie Marsan
Film Resources
Genie, Gemini and Emmy Award-winner Sturla Gunnarsson (Such a Long Journey, VIFF 98) has loosely adapted the 9th century Anglo-Saxon epic poem about a world of warriors, witches, sea hags and trolls, and finds its relevance for our own century. King Hrothgar (Stellan Skarsgård), respected Lord of the Danes, is a leader unable to protect his people who are terrorized by the troll Grendel. Beowulf (Gerard Butler) and his fellow warriors arrive to aid the community, but Beowulf is an increasingly thoughtful warrior, questioning his own status as mythic hero and disturbed to discover that Hrothgar is partially responsible for Grendel's rampage. His encounters with the witch Selma (Sarah Polley) further complicate his view as he has a deep attraction to her and discovers she has a close connection to Grendel.
The epic poem is turned into a stylish action adventure film set in a period of transition in Northern Europe as Christians have arrived to convert the barbarians. While Beowulf remains removed from the baptisms held in the river, he nevertheless understands that he is witnessing a great shift that will challenge his own code of conduct. The landscapes of Iceland, filled with ice, volcanoes, lava fields, black sands, waterfalls, sparse vegetation and brooding ocean, are the perfect primordial environment for a film in which you can smell the blood, sweat and beer.
Diplomatic Immunity (91), Gerrie & Louise (97), Such a Long Journey (98), Scorn (00), Rare Birds (01)
Reply
YEAH!!!!
Seein' this one baby! I read the thing last year in English Lit and I really liked it - when's it oot?
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment