For the first time in its history, Taste of Iceland is going virtual! From November 18-22, Iceland Naturally invites you to experience Icelandic culture during the online Taste of Iceland festival. The festival highlights the very best of Iceland’s culture, showcasing the nation’s cuisine, music, literature, and film through several live streamed events. As part of these celebrations, Scandinavia House is proud to serve as the virtual venue for a cinematic presentation of Woman at War.
Behind the scenes of her quiet routine, the independent 50-year-old Halla leads a double life as a passionate environmental activist. Known to others only by her alias “The Woman of the Mountain,” Halla secretly wages a one-woman-war on the local aluminium industry. As Halla’s actions grow bolder, from petty vandalism to outright industrial sabotage, she succeeds in pausing the negotiations between the Icelandic government and the corporation building a new aluminium smelter in the mountains.
But right as she begins planning her biggest and boldest operation yet, she receives an unexpected letter that changes everything: Her application to adopt a child has finally been accepted, and a little girl is waiting for her in Ukraine.
As Halla prepares to abandon her role as saboteur and savior of the Highlands to fulfill her dream of becoming a mother, she decides to plot one final attack to deal the aluminium industry a crippling blow. Directed by Benedikt Erlingsson (100 min. In Icelandic with English subtitles.)
On Sunday, November 22 at 4 PM ET, director Benedikt Erlingsson will join us for a Virtual Film Talk on Woman at War. Check back for more details and to see how to watch.
Benedikt Erlingsson has received many awards for his work both as a director, author and actor. As an actor he has played number of roles on the stages of the Icelandic theaters. In Icelandic TV he is best known for his writing and acting in the comedy TV series Blood Brothers. Benedikt has also participated in numerous films and television programs as an actor, such as Lars von Trier’s film The Boss of it All. His solo performance plays Wormstongue–A Love Story and Mr. Skallagrímsson were two of the most long lasting successes in Icelandic theater history, performed by himself on Icelandic stages non-stop for six years.
His first short film Thanks received the Jury Prize and Audience Award at the BE-Film Festival in New York in 2008. The Nail, his second short film, received a Special Mention at the International Short Film Festival Clermont Ferrand in 2008. Of Horses and Men, his first feature film, has traveled extensively on the festival circuit and received many prizes. Woman at War, his second feature film, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won four awards in the Critics‘ Week section. It has since screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and many other festivals.