Regína (2001)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

María Sigurðardóttir

Writers:

Sjón Sigurdsson (writer)
Margrét Örnólfsdóttir (writer)

Release Date:

4 January 2002 (Iceland)

Genre:

Musical | Family

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Sigurbjörg Alma Ingólfsdóttir	...	Regina
Benedikt Clausen	...	Peter
Baltasar Kormákur	...	Ivan
Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir	...	Margaret
Rúrik Haraldsson	...	Oliver
Sólveig Arnarsdóttir	...	Katherine
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bjørn Ingi Hilmarsson	...	Atli
Magnús Ólafsson	...	Nonni
Stefán Karl Stefánsson	...	Manni - Police officer

Also Known As:

Régina! (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Iceland | Canada

Language:

Icelandic | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

France:U | Iceland:L | Canada:G

Filming Locations:

Iceland

Company:

Icelandic Film

Goofs:

Continuity: In the English version, after the police officer looks up the translation of a French word, he then closes the dictionary and holds it in front of him, and we can see the cover of the dictionary, titled "French/English". In the next shot, he is still holding the dictionary, but it now has Icelandic writing on the cover. Presumably it is the French/Icelandic dictionary used in the Icelandic version of the movie.

If kids could enjoy revivals...

Who wants to make an old fashioned musical in style that was said to be out of time three or four decades ago?

There's nothing wrong with the idea: why should everything follow modern styles? This movie, looking something between "Annie" and "American in Paris" could be a homage to classic musicals. And homages are always welcome, especially for old fans.

The trouble is that this one is meant for (very) young kids, whose parents haven't been born when Gene Kelly and Vincent Minelli made their masterpieces. Maybe this could be recommended to grandparents to watch together with their grandchildren, who would probably be the first to give up a watching.

The movie often tries to look more American then average north European movie, and the ambiance is undetermined (although Reykjavik is mentioned a few times). Also most of the character's names are non-Icelandic, so the movie could be happening anywhere - obviously in hope to be accepted worldwide. But the movie therefore loses that spirit so typical for Scandinavian (especially children/family) movies.

The plot is suitable for all ages, maybe too predictable for older. Some scenes however are lovely and the idea of using music to control other people's actions and behaving is just enough surreal for such a film still not letting it become a fairy tale - but sometimes it would be better if omitted. Actors are better then the movie itself, but very uneven. Some are too caricatured and really annoying (mostly stunts, like customers in Atli's shop), the others caricatured adequately what makes them funny (like Cynthia). Both kids are great, not too sweet and irritating, not pathetic, among the best child actors I've ever seen. But I'd really like to see Regina in a movie without singing.

Not a waste of time if you can handle watching a story for kids packed in Minelli-Kelly style musicals.