Beowulf & Grendel (2005)

Director:

Sturla Gunnarsson

Writers:

Anonymous (epic poem "Beowulf")
Andrew Rai Berzins (writer)

Release Date:

9 March 2006 (Thailand)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

The Hero. The Monster. The Myth.

Plot:

The blood-soaked tale of a Norse warrior's battle against the great and murderous troll, Grendel. Heads will roll...

Plot Keywords:

Beowulf | Good Versus Evil | Old English | Viking | Norse Mythology

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Hringur Ingvarsson	...	Young Grendel
Spencer Wilding	...	Grendel's Father
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Hrothgar
Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson	...	Grendel (as Ingvar E. Sigurdsson)
Gunnar Eyjólfsson	...	Aeschere
Gerard Butler	...	Beowulf
Philip Whitchurch	...	Fisherman
Ronan Vibert	...	Thorkel
Rory McCann	...	Breca
Tony Curran	...	Hondscioh
Martin Delaney	...	Thorfinn
Mark Lewis	...	King Hygelac
Elva Ósk Ólafsdóttir	...	Sea Hag
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson	...	Unferth
Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir	...	Wealtheow (as Steinunn Ólína Thorsteinsdóttir)
Sarah Polley	...	Selma
Eddie Marsan	...	Father Brendan
Gísli Örn Garðarsson	...	Erik (as Gísli Örn Gardarsson)
Gunnar Hansson	...	Grimur
Benedikt Clausen	...	Selma's Child
Steindór Andersen	...	Snorri
Matt John Evans	...	Geat Warrior
Jon Einarsson Gustafsson	...	Geat Warrior (as Jon Gustafsson)
Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson	...	Guard (as Thröstur Leó Gunnarsson)
Arnór Hákonarson	...	Rock Throwing Kid
Þórður Helgi Guðjónsson	...	Rock Throwing Kid (as Thórdur Helgi Gudjónsson)
Kristín Hrönn Gunnarsdóttir	...	Dead Woman (as Kristín Gunnarsdóttir)
Daði Freyr Guðjónsson	...	Woman's Child (as Dadi Freyr Gudjónsson)
Egill Ólafsson	...	Necrophile (as Ólafur Egill Ólafsson)
Helgi Björnsson	...	Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bryjar Ágústsson	...	Geat (uncredited)
Helgi Marteinn Ingason	...	Geat (uncredited)
Tómas Axel Ragnarsson	...	Geat (uncredited)
Guðmundur Karl Sigurdórsson	...	Dead Guard (uncredited)
Bárður Smárason	...	Geat (uncredited)

Directed by
Sturla Gunnarsson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Anonymous		epic poem "Beowulf"
Andrew Rai Berzins		writer

Produced by
Andreas Bajohra	....	post producer
Andrew Rai Berzins	....	co-producer
Michael Cowan	....	producer (as Michael Lionello Cowan)
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson	....	executive producer (as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson)
Sturla Gunnarsson	....	producer
Douglas Hansen	....	associate producer (as Douglar E. Hansen)
Peter James	....	executive producer
Eric Jordan	....	producer
Anna María Karlsdóttir	....	producer
Alex Marshall	....	executive producer
Jason Piette	....	producer
James Simpson	....	executive producer
Paul Stephens	....	producer
James D. Stern	....	executive producer
Mark Winemaker	....	line producer

Original Music by
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson

Cinematography by
Jan Kiesser

Film Editing by
Jeff Warren

Casting by
Pam Dixon

Production Design by
Árni Páll Jóhannsson

Costume Design by
Debra Hanson

Makeup Department
Nick Dudman	....	makeup effects designer
Claire Green	....	assistant foam runner
Jenny Weight	....	makeup effects coordinator

Production Management
Kate Dain	....	unit production manager: UK
John Harcourt	....	post-production supervisor
Jennifer Macleod	....	post-production supervisor
Martin Schlüter	....	production manager
Lisa Gilbert Thomas	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jordana Lieberman	....	third assistant director
Grant Lucibello	....	second assistant director
Wendy Ord	....	first assistant director
Kristie Sills	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Robert J. Lewis	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Steph Carrier	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kathy Choi	....	assistant sound editor
John Elliot	....	foley assistant
Barry Gilmore	....	dialogue editor
Ása Björg Ingimarsdóttir	....	assistant sound
William B. Kaplan	....	sound mixer
Garrett Kerr	....	adr editor
Ingvar Lundberg	....	adr recordist
David McCallum	....	supervising dialogue & adr editor
Simon Okin	....	sound
David Rose	....	sound editor
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vanesa Lorena Tate	....	adr supervisor
Jane Tattersall	....	supervising sound editor
David Yonson	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
Barry Best	....	mold maker
Nick Dudman	....	creature effects designer
Claire Green	....	assistant moldmaker
Mark White	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Jon Campfens	....	visual effects supervisor: Switch VFX
Gudrun Heinze	....	digital compositor
Safiya Ravat	....	digital compositor
Chris Wallace	....	DI colourist
Aleksandar Yochkolovski	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Ben Dimmock	....	stunts
Rick English	....	stunt double: Gerard Butler
Rick English	....	stunt performer
Jason Hunjan	....	stunt performer
Luke Kearney	....	stunt double
Mike Lambert	....	stunt performer
Roberto Lopez	....	stunt performer
Jamie Millington	....	stunts
Ray Nicholas	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Peter Pedrero	....	stunt coordinator
Curtis Rivers	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Jacob Barrie	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jason Coop	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Peter Davies	....	generator operator
Simon De Glanville	....	camera trainee
Gary Deneault	....	gaffer
Christian Drennan	....	key grip
Asgrimur Gudbjartsson	....	grip
Goði Már Guðbjörnsson	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Livingstone	....	best boy grip
Fridrik Orn	....	still photographer
Gordon Segrove	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera dailies
Ingvar Stefánsson	....	electrician
Dean Thompson	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Nick Wall	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Deirdre Bowen	....	casting: Canada
Buffy Hall	....	casting: UK
Sigrún Sól Ólafsdóttir	....	casting: Iceland
Vicky Wildman	....	casting: UK

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robyn Rosenberg	....	costume set supervisor
Michael Shire	....	armour costumer: Valentine Armouries
Robert Valentine	....	armour costumer: Valentine Armouries
Maria Valles	....	key wardrobe

Editorial Department
Nick Iannelli	....	digital intermediate producer
Alexandra Kosevic	....	post-production coordinator
Arthur Montreuil	....	color timer
Dave Muscat	....	digital intermediate editorial
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Michelle Szemberg	....	assistant editor
Chris Wallace	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Ivana Jeftic	....	music supervisor
James Shearman	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Hilmar Thor Arnason	....	transportation
Erik Hirt	....	transportation coordinator: Iceland

Other crew
Cynthia Amsden	....	unit publicist
Kim Ballard	....	head of production finance
Shirine Best	....	development assistant
Mel Churcher	....	dialogue coach
Osk Gunnlaugsdottir	....	assistant to director
Jon Einarsson Gustafsson	....	epk director
Jon Einarsson Gustafsson	....	web director
Mel Hider	....	assistant: Mr. Cowan and Mr. Piette
Susan R. Jones	....	production coordinator
Emily Kyriakides	....	assistant to producer: UK
Marcia Leeder	....	assistant production coordinator
Elena Miles	....	personal assistant to producer: Spice Factory
Sigrún Sól Ólafsdóttir	....	cast coordinator
Lucy Shuttleworth	....	development executive
Guðmundur Karl Sigurdórsson	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Movision
• Darklight Films
• Endgame Entertainment (co-production)
• Arclight Films
• Beowulf Productions Limited
• Film Works, The
• Grendel Productions Inc.
• Icelandic Film (as Icelandic Film Corporation)
• Spice Factory
• Téléfilm Canada
• Union Station Media

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• SPO (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Truly Indie (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Union Station Media (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Switch VFX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Norðnorðvestur kvikmyndagerð  equipment provided by
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities
• Tattersall Sound  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Bjólfskviða (Iceland)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

Canada:103 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:103 min

Country:

Canada | UK | Iceland

Language:

English | Latin | Icelandic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:M18 | UK:15 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Iceland

Company:

Movision

Quotes:

King Hrothgar: You ever worry about that? Heaven?
Beowulf: I'm thinking I'll likely go where I'm sent.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wrath of Gods (2006)

Sturla Gunnarsson's "Beowulf & Grendel" is a Must-See

I was fortunate to see Sturla Gunnarsson's "Beowulf & Grendel" at the Toronto International Film Festival. This film is MUCH MORE than the long epic poem we read in high school! It is a film infused with humor, heart, suspense, and qualities of character and motivation which make it memorable indeed! Yes, there is violence, but that is the nature of the beast, so to speak. The story tells of people living in rather primitive circumstances (compared to modern Western standards) and war is a way of life. Without going into the story, it can safely be said that the introduction of the hero Beowulf (wonderfully played by Gerard Butler) leads to a tale of honor, friendship, loyalty, bravery, horror, and retribution. The musical score, sets, costumes, armor and weaponry, and especially the landscape (filmed entirely in Iceland!) add to the splendor of this movie. I have recommended B&G to our friends, and we hope it is widely distributed.