Winter Brothers (2017)
Didn’t know that 16mm could this look. It also the great cinematography Maria von Hausswolff, who also worked on Pálmason’s other feature films, that holds this move up for me. Not beautiful Icelandic nature this time, but a snowy limestone factory. It isn’t quite as compelling, which may be one of the reasons that I didn’t connect so much with this film compared to the two next of Pálmason’s, but his talent as a filmmaker is very much is this debut feature film.
While the title suggests it is about brothers, I felt it was mostly about Emil and his attempts at belonging, to be part of the group, to be accepted. He is this young man who is somehow just off. Social awkward and with unusual manners and interests, but very assertive - almost aggressive - in his ways. While his brother is important, I felt the movie more explored Emil’s twisted view of masculinity and his desperate attempts to belong and be recognized.
An impressive debut with great cinematography, but also very strange and “arthousey” that almost pulled me out of the film a couple of times.
Rating: 3.5