Movies - Falcons

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	Movies - Falcons

Falcons (or Fálkar in Icelandic), was the seventh film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson. This film, released in 2002, is the first movie entirely in English language by Friðrikssson and also constitutes his first work as a scriptwriter and therefore this drama is considered to be a film of both domestic and international appeal.

Cast

Keith Carradine
: Simon.
Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir: Dúa.
Ingvar E. Sigurðsson: Jóhann.
Magnús Ólafsson: Lobbi.
Margrét Ólafsdóttir: Auntie.
Friðrik Friðriksson: Young Policeman.
Axel Prahl: Car Rental Dealer.
Marisa Calcagno: Sabine.
Margrét Helga Jóhannsdóttir: Barmaid.
Ramin Yazdani: Scarface.
Geo von Krogh: Salvation Army Host.
Hark Bohm: A Man of the World.
Ragnheidur Steindórsdóttir: Nurse.
Guðmundur Ólafsson: Doctor.
Pétur Ólafsson: Uncle Tóti.
Theódór Júlíusson: Bus Driver.
Randver Thorláksson: Customs Officer.
Zack-Volker Michalowski: Antique Dealer.
Jóhanna Vigdís Hjaltadóttir: TV Reporter I.
Ómar Ragnarsson: TV Reporter II.
Örlygur Kristfinnsson: Gallery Owner.
Darren Forman: American I.
Glenn Robert Hodge: American II.
Rafi Guessous: Doorman.
Bernd Gajkowski: Lübeck Bartender.
Frank Wieczorek: Sad Looking Man.
Werner Karle Jung: Shady Looking Man.

Plot

It is the story of an ex con, Simon (Carradine) who after returning to Iceland, where his mother was born visit relatives, but actually he is looking for the loneliest place in the world to commit suicide. In a small village he met Dúa (Vilhjálmsdóttir), an Icelandic young lady, who is found as an interesting, rather strange woman by Simon. Dúa has a caged falcon that she hopes to tame, but they get into trouble as it is illegal to posses this kind of animals in captivity.
In the story Simon is the embodiment of a jailed bird, one of the falcons and as she is an air sign, they join in a relationship ruled by Dúa’s belief that she is her illegitimate daughter. Surrounded by tension between them, Simon serves as a protective figure to Dúa, who refrains him from committing suicide.
The couple escape to Hamburg, Germany to start all over again. The protagonists’ behaviours are opposite to each other: Simon is down to earth and find himself awkward by Dúa’s eccentric beliefs in astrology, who considers Simon as a typical Capricorn and thus avoid deepening into a more serious relationship, partly because of the feeling of his paternity.

Dúa’s falcon, that she nourished and protected when ill, has a high value to her, as she considers it as the last remnant of the beloved life in Iceland. The falcon travels with them on their escape and posses a high monetary value. Later, as Dúa wasted their money, Simon tries to sell the falcon in order to cover with their expenditures, but he is cheated by some rich Arabs and the falcon is stolen.

Comment reviews

Identifying the characters of the film with the characteristics of a falcon is a creative means of description, which counteract previous characterizations of bohemian Icelandic artists and American ex-cons. There is, however, a feeble argument to support the immediate and close relationship developed between the two characters.

Falcons is written in a laconic and subtle style as previous works by director Friðriksson. The film portrays an exquisite visual direction where still landscape is sometimes contrasted by subtle human activity, a resource used without falling into an exaggeration of the landscape immensity, which helps to illustrate the isolation of Simon and Dúa. The characterization of actor Keith Carradine as Simon brings a charismatic presence and strength of personality that is highlighted by talkative Dúa’s naïve and strange personality.

The soundtrack was also released as a separate CD titled Fálkar. The music composition was mainly in charge of Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and there were featured several important artists who set up a proper atmosphere to the film’s plot.

Credits

Production: Icelandic Film Corporation, Peter Rommel Productions, Filmhuset AS, Norway and Film & Music Entertainment UK in association with Invicta Capital Ltd., UK & ZDF/Arte, Germany.
Support: Eurimages, Icelandic Film Fund, Filmförderung Hamburg, and Nordic Film & TV-Fund.
Director: Friðrik Þór Friðriksson.
Producers: Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Anna María Karlsdóttir, Peter Rommel, Egil Ödegaard, Mike Downey, and Sam Taylor.
Script: Einar Kárason and Friðrik Þór Friðriksson.
Production design: Árni Páll Jóhannsson.
Costume Design: Helga I. Stefánsdóttir.
Editor: Sigvaldi J. Kárason.
Director of photography: Harald Paalgard.
Sound Design: Kjartan Kjartansson.
Music composed, arranged and produced by: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson.
Guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson, Jón Þór Birgisson, Kristján Edelstein, and Orri Hardarson.
Bass: Georg Bjarnason, and Tómas Magnús Tómasson.
Percussion: Birgir Baldursson.
Cello: Stefán Örn Arnarson.
Sound Engineers: Georg Bjarnason, and Tómas Magnús Tómasson.
Music recorded at the People’s Studio, Reykjavík.
Re-recording: Kjartan Kjartansson, and Ingvar Lundberg.
Sound editing: Kjartan Kjartansson, Ingvar Lundberg, Steingrímur E. Gudmundsson, Björn Viktorsson, Nicolas Liebing, Vilhjálmur, Godi Friðriksson, Nicolas Pétur Blin, and Magnús Sigurðarson.
Foley: Gadou Naudin.
Foley Recording: Steingrímur E. Gudmundsson.
Foley re-recording: Steingrímur E. Gudmundsson.
ADR Recording: Björn Viktorsson.
Director of “Making of”: Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon.

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Movies - Falcons

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