Thomas Scott The film 101 Reykjavik produced and directed by award-winning Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur is a dark cerebral comedy that proves to be a strong first feature length film for Kormákur. Based on the book by painter, novelist, translator, and writer Hallgrímur Helgason, 101 Reykjavik is titled after a section of the downtown of Iceland's largest city and capital which is populated by people whom the protagonist would no doubt describe as idiots. From that setting sprouts a facetious and twisted tale of transfiguration, lust, and profundity, that contorts notions of familial relations and seeks to both entertain viewers and incite thought.The films self-centred and listless protagonist Hlynur, a roughly 30 year old unemployed loser with a penchant for porn, proves to be both a comedian and a philosopher. Dedicated to his self-proclaimed profession of being unemployable and unwanted wreck, the nihilistic Hlynur revels in his insignificance; wishing nothing on himself except porn, booze, and a swift death. Hlynur shirks all responsibility and leaves his mother's tiny apartment almost exclusively to get drunk with his two acquaintances or harass civil servants. When pushed to describe what it is that he does, Hlynur responds by saying he does "the nothing kind of nothing." A perfect descriptor for his life thus far.That all begins to change when he is introduced to the vivacious-flamenco instructor-girlfriend of his mother: Lola. Lola plays the parent and tries to coax a person out of the reclusive Hlynur but he has other ideas in mind. Despite Hófi throwing herself at Hlynur, he rejects her entirely while spending time with Lola during his mother's vacation. His efforts culminate in an alcohol fuelled night of drunken passion the final night before his mothers return. What follows for Hlynur is a whirlwind of confessions, self-pity, and unprecedented growth that is riddled with comically dark humour and philosophical commentary.The apartment feels much smaller to Hlynur as he is slapped in the face by the reality of his situation. The thin walls of the apartment bring his frustration with himself to a boil and in a fit of childish rage he repeatedly seeks to find solace in alcohol only to be berated by the idiots in the bar. However, as Hlynur grows as a person he also begins to come to terms with his mother's love for Lola. With changing times and rising tensions in his home-life Hlynur is roused from his hibernation-esque lifestyle and pushed to not only make something of himself but also of his now-topsy-turvy family. How he comes to terms with his "mamma's-boy" role changing in the congealing familial unit is a core point of growth and a central theme in the film.Seekers of intellectual stimulation fear not, the philosopher inside Hlynur is awash with notes of existential and moral nihilism. With comments like "Family dinner or a funeral... I'd rather go to a funeral, at least there's one less idiot" and "The worst thing about AIDS as a method of suicide is that it takes so long to die from it" Hlynur cements himself as someone who places no value in both his life and the lives of even his closest family. His philosophical outlook undergoes a parallel morphology to that of his tumultuous private and social lives.The pace of the camera work contributes a deceptively monotonous plodding feeling to the film which occurs over what appears to be several weeks if not months. The abstraction of perception of time contributes to the film by implying that by and large nothing important happens in the everyday lives of the characters and that they live a relatively empty existence. Furthermore, for a large portion of the film the setting of Christmastime in Reykjavik lends a chill and vacant appearance that serves as an ample metaphor for the utter lack of activity in Hlydnurs life. In the words of Hlydnur "There are no insects, no trees, no nothing... The only reason why people live here is because they were born here." Which makes ever more apparent the state of his existence.Despite its meandering pace and, at points, glaringly obvious metaphors 101 Reykjavik has a twisted and unpredictable plot that surprises with each turn. The comedy, like great chocolate, is dark and you most certainly have to be in the mood for it. As comic Erma Bombeck said "There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humour and hurt" and 101 Reykjavik walks that line with dexterity. That said, it is nigh-impossible to watch and not chuckle in the least. Needless to say 101 Reykjavik is an excellent first showing for Kormákur.

C Jo ***WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS***101 Reykjavik takes place in the heart of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. Hlynur, a 30 year old "mama's boy", is happily jobless, living at home, filling his days with porn and his evenings at the pub. After years of idleness, Hlynur suddenly faces a promising relationship, threats from the unemployment agency, his absent, alcoholic father, his mom coming out of the closet and learns he is the father of his mother's girlfriend's child (opps). Life is coming at Hlynur hard and he is turning and running away as fast as he can. Director Baltasoar Kormakir uses the blustery Icelandic winters to portray Hlynur's life coming at him hard and fast. Often, we see Hlynur walking through the streets of Reykjavik with the snow and ice blasting him in the face, coating his glasses and beard. His only escapes are home with his mother and the pub. Even during Hlynur's darkest moment we see the ice and the snow consuming him; his suicide attempt was to let the snow and ice bury him. However, Hlynur comes to realize that even when life is coming at with all its fury, the best you can do is stand up, brush yourself off and push forward. One of the storms Hlynur needs to get through is coming to terms with his mother's announcement that she and Lola are lovers. For most people, especially American viewers, hearing your mother come out of the closet as a lesbian can be quite a shock. For Hlynur, however, it is really no big deal. He tells her that its "great" and assures her he has no problem with her sexual orientation. What I think this represents is the general notion that people who identify as GLBT are typically accepted. Indeed, Nordic and Scandinavian countries are well known for their progressive public policies regarding those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual. In Iceland, at the time of 101 Reykjavik's release (2000), same sex sexual activity had long been decriminalized, there was equal age of consent and anti-discrimination laws protecting housing, employment and civil rights (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iceland). While it is heartwarming to see Hlynur accept his mother and her lover, we still get a glimpse of anti-gay attitudes. Hlynur's drinking buddies and friends at the pub tease him and make fun of his mother for being lesbian. This is a good reminder that although governments can be accepting and accommodating for GLBT people, the public's attitude may not be as friendly. While Hlynur accepts his mother for who she is and clearly loves her, his feelings towards the rest of his family are less than amiable. To Hlynur, his extended family is another extension of the rut his life is stuck in. Dreading the Christmas Day dinner, Hlynur explains to his mother he cannot stand going to his sister's house because it is out in the middle of nowhere. What Hlynur labels as "nowhere" is really not far from the city and is still considered a suburb; hardly the middle of nowhere. However, without the nightlife and bar scene of Reykjavik, the suburb seems lifeless. The Christmas dinner is a painful experience for not only Hlynur, but everyone else as well. The dinner table is crowded and cramped and no one has anything to say. After a few awkward and failed attempts at conversation ("so how is everyone?"), the family falls back to the safety of the weather. After dinner, we continue to see the conversation struggling as the men talk about the new sofa. Trying to save the evening, Hlynur's sister puts on the home video of Christmas dinner from the previous year. There they sit and watch and the very same people talk about the weather and new items. It seems like every aspect of Hlynur's life is in repeat. In this scene, we see a rather disturbing and humorous daydream of Hlynur shooting his extended family; symbolizing that he is coming to a breaking point and he needs to take some control of his life. Hlynur's experiences at Christmas dinner are a good reminder that although family is important, they can be one of the factors that keep people stuck in ruts. Once Hlynur is able to come to terms with all the different aspects of his life and find a way for them to live in harmony with each other, he starts to realize there is more to life than living off unemployment and porn. He takes great care of his brother/son, finally gets a job, and is able to live with his mother and Lola. Most people do not live in cold, isolated areas like Reykjavik but from time to time, people do find themselves stuck in life's ruts like Hlynur. The small, isolated island of Iceland was a good backdrop to the feelings and experiences Hlynur was facing. The strong elements were beating Hlynur in the face and yet he was able to move on. Reykjavik 101 is a hopeful film that shows audiences that even when life seems dead and desperate, we can always brush ourselves off and move forward. In all, 101 Reykjavik is a heartwarming and refreshing film about pulling yourself up and bringing your life back together. I would definitely recommend it for mature audiences who can handle sexually explicit scenes and themes.

anas This icelandic movie draws a very authentic image of Iceland's capital Reykjavík. Famous for its bars and clubs and nightlife. Reykjavík can also be a lonely place for someone like Hlynur, played competently by Hilmir Snær Guðnason. Hlynur is a young healthy man still living with his mother, we see him sleep through most of his days and spend the rest of his life watching porn or clubbing at night. His event-less boring life takes a slight disturbance with the introduction of his mother's friend Lola, played by the wonderful Victoria Abril, love affairs start showing up between the triangle of Hlymur, his mother and Lola.Hilmir Snær Guðnason does a very good job in portraying the delusional Hlymur, we feel his emptiness and sense of unfulfillment throughout the movie, we even sympathize with him because he is a very likable character which makes us take interest in what goes on with him and what will happen to him next. His interactions with Lola are the highlights of the movie without a doubt because it's the only time that he finally shows any kind of emotion towards another human being.101 Reykjavík is beautifully shot, the gorgeous landscapes of Iceland and the busy nightlife serve as a wonderful backdrop to the story, by the end of the film you almost feel like you have been to Reykjavík. The movie has also a very good dialogue with many witty moments be it from Hlymur conversations with his friends or his monologues. All in all, this is an entertaining, charming movie that takes us to the life of a young man with so much going on in his head and not much to do.

paul2001sw-1 Iceland is a strange country, isolated from the rest of the world and with a strong sense of its traditional identity; but also affluent, liberal and with a reputation for hedonism. '101 Reykjavik', named after a district of its capital city famed for its nightclubs, takes a wry and jaundiced look at that society, viewing it through the perspective of Hlynur, a depressed, childish and insular young man living at home with his mother. Hlynur seems a very Icelandic sort of anti-hero, and the link between the nature of the characters and their place of abode gives this quirky comedy a distinctive and authentic feel, although it seems slightly surprising how much female attention the socially defective Hylnur is able to attract. There are more sophisticated movies out there, but '101 Rekjavik' is always entertaining and certainly worth watching, especially to anyone who's wondered what it really must be like to live in such a peculiar outpost of the western world.