The Dance (1998)
Drama · Comedy
Story
Águst Guðmundsson directed this Icelandic period drama, adapted from the short story We Must Dance by William Heinesen, and set on an island in 1913. Pétur (Gunnar Helgason) narrates, recalling the days when mainlanders arrived for a wedding. Flirtatious Sirsa (Pálína Jónsdottir) marries Harald (Dofri Hermannsson), son of a wealthy landowner on the island. Offshore, a ship is sinking, so the men form a rescue party, returning with the captain, the engineer, and several sailors. With a storm gathering, the engineer dies. The clergyman requests an end to the festivities as a mark of respect. Sirsa protests, but her new husband brings the celebration to a halt. The group then fragments into different activities, drunken or otherwise, and the sensual Sirsa directs her attention toward the handsome Ívar (Baldur Trausti Hreinsson). The film's score features traditional folk music.
The Dance Cast
- Gunnar Helgason as Pétur
- Joi Johannsson as Vítus
- Benedikt Erlingsson as Hólófernes
- Baldur Trausti Hreinsson as Ívar
- Magnús Ólafsson as Sýslumaður
- Gísli Halldórsson as Nikulás
- Pálína Jónsdóttir as Sirsa
- Dofri Hermannsson as Haraldur
- Arnar Jónsson as Djákni
- Þórunn Magnea Magnúsdóttir as Móðir Haraldar
- Björk Jakobsdóttir as Theodóra
- Guðrún Þ. Stephensen as Sjómannsekkja