re:mote voices

Title: Nói Albínói
Cast: Tómas Lemarquis, Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson, Elín Hansdóttir, Anna Fridriksdóttir, Hjalti Rögnvaldsson, Pétur Einarsson, Kjartan Bjargmundsson, Greipur Gislason
Director: Dagur Kári

what to make of noi? his age isn't entirely obvious, but he is still at school, and from other suggestions i would put him at about 17. noi lives in a snow bound town in iceland, the opening sequence showing someone digging their way out their front door. noi lives with his grandma, but still has to put up with his drunken father periodically. despite cutting school all the time, and generally having a bad attitude, it is suggested that noi is actually pretty smart - he sees a psychiatrist at school who thinks he might be a genius, and we witness how he is good at puzzles.

life in iceland is bleak, this is the message that is set up, and certainly one that comes across from other icelandic films like reykjavik 101 and angels of the universe. however it looks like noi might have something to cheer him up with the arrival of iris, a new girl working at the gas station. they hit it off, and dream together, but when it seems that she isn't as serious as he is, things start to look worse than they ever were.

nói albinói drags at times, and is not the most cheerful film ever, but as i already said this seems to be a part of what makes the icelandic films that seem to breakout. like those mentioned though nói albinói is not without a certain (dark) humour, but it is clear that this is a tragedy. the ending of nói albinói coming with a particular punch.