THE MOUNTAIN/ Fjallið

Iceland, 2025, 93 minutes, Colour.

 Bjorn Hlynur Haraldsson, Isadora Bjarkardottir Barney, Sovieg Gudmundsdottir.

Directed by Ásthildur Kjartansdóttir

The mountain of the title is to be found in Iceland. It is a mountain where an astronomer goes to try to photograph the trail of the comet that she has discovered. She is excited, has invited her husband and daughter to come with her on this momentous occasion but her husband is caught up in his building work, and the daughter has a singing gig at a club.

It can be said that the themes of the film are life and death, profound as they are. The film offers something of a close-up of the effect of the death on the husband and the daughter, the husband completely overcome, grief, more and more irrational. The daughter, with her own issues, especially the pregnancy with her boyfriend, trying to deal with her grief and, exasperatedly, trying to deal with her father.

The perspective of the film is hope, that no matter what the grief, there is a strength in the human spirit, especially if people help one another, that they can mourn, but continue their life as something of a tribute to the love of the person who has died.

1. The title, the mountain and reach into the stars?
2. A moral fable about life and living, goals, purpose? Life and death, consequences?
3. The setting, the school and the office, astronomy, the home, the building sites and work, the club and the singing? The landscapes, roads, mountains, the house in the mountains? The musical score?
4. The initial focus on Maria, astronomy, her interests, discovering the comet, her colleague, excitement? To go to the hut and photograph the comet? Her relationship with her husband, her daughter, their not going? Her being upset, travelling, with her camera, phone call and message to her husband? The news of her death? The sadness of the funeral, the guests and the reception?
5. The focus on Atli, at work, his colleagues and friendships, the demanding boss, work on the weekend, not going with his wife? His past and playing in the band? His relationship with his daughter, going to her concert? The aftermath, the phone call from his wife, news of her death, his reaction, grief? After the funeral, women bringing cakes, his friends and their conversation about golf, going outside, his daughter asking him to come in? His refusal? His tantrum at work about the lamps, quitting? Wandering, drinking, going to his friend, the night? In the bar, encountering the man, anger, his being bashed?
6. The focus on n, her age, bonds with her mother, father, her boyfriend, the band rehearsals, the drama, not going with her mother, the performance, happy? The pregnancy test, her boyfriend’s reaction, telling his mother, her being upset? Her grief at her mother’s death, the funeral and the aftermath? Resuming the singing? Response to her pregnancy, the discussion with a boyfriend, his acceptance? Not telling her father?
7. Atli, the colleague, his offending him, collecting his wife’s goods, the diary, her ambitions, his decision to go? With Anna, the weather forecast, the difficulties of the road, making decisions the right road, the call from the woman about the night, and as reaction? Sleeping in the van, aptly finding the way, going to the hut, the decision to photograph the comet, the climax of the film, success? Calling it Maria?
8. The philosophical reflections, the religious reflections, the meaning of life, death, continuity of life, continuity of love? Having a purpose in life and the consequences for relationships?