Sigur Ros, everyone’s favorite Icelandic, post-rock quartet recently made their tour documentary Heima available in it’s entirety at Youtube. Great move, even better movie.
Now, I don’t know what I can say to convince you readers to watch all 97 minutes of this flick, but you really should, and I’ll do my best to argue for it.
I took it Heima last night before bed — a very relaxing experience. In the end, I was blown away with the beauty of the photography. Most of the visuals in the film are of barren Icelandic fjords, set the the band’s live performances, which are artistic and beautiful in their own right.
Speaking of the music, the set list is perfect, including tunes you will remember from movies like Vanilla Sky and Life Aquatic. Remember?
The best part of Heima is watching the band make music. I have always wondered how they create the sounds they do. Turns out, its pretty simple, surprising because of how complex it all sounds. Also, as the narrative of the movie unfolds, you get to know the band. (And yes, this tour documentary has a narrative.)
The film follows the band as they make their way across Iceland, playing free shows in tiny villages, condemned fish factories and protest camps in the rural hills. Just as much a film about Icelandic culture, Heima goes beyond a lot of music films. It easily falls into the category of a travel documentary and a cultural study.
The music and performances are blended perfectly with the cultural viewpoint. In one memorable scene, the band plays inside the Icelandic equivalent of a Grange. The meeting hall is packed with children, teens, adults — everyone came to see what was going on. Everyone seems transfixed by what is in front of them.
Youth are also central to the movie, as almost every scene of an audience focuses on children. There seems to be an extraordinary number of children in Iceland, making it hopeful there will be groundbreaking music emerging from the country for years to come.
Also, there are many sweaters. Amazing, colorful sweaters.
So, if you want a relaxing evening, filled with strange views and ethereal music, watch this film. If you want to learn about another culture, one that almost seems trapped in time, watch this film.
Without further ado:
Watch the whole movie here, or click through to Youtube to watch in full screen. You loose resolution when you go full screen, but you get a better movie experience.
Stick around through the credits to hear “Untitled 3,” one of my favorite tracks. Or, listen here: