The Seagull's Laughter (2001)

Post-war provincial Iceland: around 1950, Freyja, who'd been a plump teen, returns from America, a widow with a 20-inch waist, seven suitcases of dresses, and a list of who ever wronged or ... See full summary »

Director:

Ágúst Guðmundsson

Writers:

Kristin Marja Baldursdóttir (novel), Ágúst Guðmundsson

Stars:

Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir, Ugla Egilsdóttir, Heino Ferch

8 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir	...	Freyja
Ugla Egilsdóttir	...	Agga
Heino Ferch	...	Björn Theódór
Hilmir Snær Guðnason	...	Magnús
Kristbjörg Kjeld	...	Amma
Edda Björg Eyjólfsdóttir	...	Dódó
Bára Lyngdal Magnúsdóttir	...	Dísa
Eyvindur Erlendsson	...	Afi
Guðlaug Ólafsdóttir	...	Ninna (as Guðlaug Elísabet Ólafsdóttir)
Sigurveig Jónsdóttir	...	Kidda
Dilja Mist	...	Emilía (as Diljá Mist Einarsdóttir)
Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir	...	Birna
Jónína Ólafsdóttir	...	Læknisfrúin
Charlotte Bøving	...	Mette
Benedikt Erlingsson	...	Hilli

Storyline

Post-war provincial Iceland: around 1950, Freyja, who'd been a plump teen, returns from America, a widow with a 20-inch waist, seven suitcases of dresses, and a list of who ever wronged or slighted her. She moves in with an aunt and socialist uncle: finding a new husband is high on her agenda, and she's mistrusted by Agga, a pre-teen who's our eyes and ears. The social order and Freyja are more complicated than they seem at first, and so may be her prospects. Class divisions, families ties, pride, the onset of puberty, and the power of Eros sliver the ice.

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Plot Keywords:

sexy woman | class difference | working class | domineering mother | abusive husband | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Iceland Germany UK

Language:

Icelandic Danish

Release Date:

13 February 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

A sirály nevetése

Company Credits

Production Co:

Isfilm, Archer Street Productions, Hope & Glory Film Productions GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

I'd recommend this movie

This is a wonderful movie, set in the 1950's, about a beautiful woman who returns to Iceland after living in America. She reminds me a little of Scarlet O'Hara. She is a strong woman who takes no prisoners. The slinky dresses she brings back from the United States make quite a contrast with the dowdy woolen clothes that her relatives wear. Her beauty, glamor and willfulness wreak havoc on the population. The childlike delight which which she deploys her charms is wonderful to behold.

The movie is not in any way dull or dreary. It moves pretty quickly, has a droll sense of humor, and a knowingness about human nature.

If you are sensitive; there is one brief scene where something bad happens to an animal. The event is bad, but mostly takes place out of view. There are some sex scenes which are not extremely graphic, but do show female nudity.

I'd recommend this movie. As foreign or independent movies go, this is one of the better ones. Compared to the one or two other Icelandic movies that I have seen, this is the best by a wide margin.