Svartur á leik (2012)

After being reacquainted with a childhood friend Stebbi joins the drug trade world in order to pay off his debt. Inspired by actual events.

Director:

Óskar Thór Axelsson

Writers:

Óskar Thór Axelsson (script writer), Stefán Máni (novel)

Stars:

Thor Kristjansson, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Damon Younger

3 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thor Kristjansson	...	Stebbi psycho (as Þorvaldur Davið Kristjánsson)
Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson	...	Tóti
Damon Younger	...	Bruno
María Birta	...	Dagný (as Maria Birta Bjarnadóttir)
Vignir Rafn Valþórsson	...	Robbi Rotta
Egill Einarsson	...	Sævar K
Björn Jörundur Friðbjörnsson	...	Óskar tattoo
Ísak Hinriksson	...	Nóri litli
Andri Már Birgisson	...	Rósi
Þór Jóhannesson	...	Eddi Krueger
Rúnar Freyr Gíslason	...	Árni Jónsson
Hilmar Jonsson	...	Konráð Geirsson (as Hilmar Jónsson)
Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson	...	Jói Faraó
Steinn Ármann Magnússon	...	Einar skakki
Sveinn Geirsson	...	Viktor (as Sveinn Þ. Geirsson)

Storyline

In the mid to late 90's, the Reykjavik crime and drug scene saw a drastic change from a relatively small and innocent world into a much more aggressive and violent one.. The film tells the story of this change through the fictional gang of pushers that took control of Iceland's underworld.

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Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | male rear nudity | male nudity | male frontal nudity | drugs | 

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, some graphic nudity, brutal violence including a sexual assault, disturbing behavior, pervasive drug content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Iceland

Language:

Icelandic

Release Date:

12 February 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black's Game

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmus Productions, Zik Zak Kvikmyndir

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Reservoir Dogs (1992)

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Soundtracks

Intro
Written by Árni Plúseinn

User Reviews

A crime-thriller with an Icelandic flavour

After spending a night in the cells for a violent encounter, a young guy called Stebbi (Thor Kristjansson) bumps into an old school friend Tóti (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson). The latter is now a gangster and he invites Stebbi into his world. Things become more complicated, however, when they join forces with a psychotic gangster called Bruno (Damon Younger). They take over the territory of the old-guard and set up a complex drug trafficking system but things begin to spiral out of control.

Pusher and Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn is the executive producer here. Black's Game is a film that does show his influence. It's a stylish crime-thriller with a prominent electronica soundtrack. It's based on a best-selling novel and it includes re-enactments of some real events. Set in the last days of the 20th century, its historical setting is intended to reflect the growth of the Icelandic crime underworld at the turn of the millennium. In many ways it's a fairly routine crime film, what really makes it distinctive is its Icelandic flavour. The dramatic landscape and the cultural details set this gangster flick apart from others. Otherwise it uses lots of stylistic touches now familiar to the genre like split-screen, slow motion and jump-cuts, although these are always quite welcome and they are well done here. As you might also expect for the genre, it is violent and disturbing at times too. But it also has space for a little sensuality as well, with the gorgeous María Birta, who plays coke-head Dagný, a very welcome presence indeed.

Black's Game may not exactly break the mould but it's a very good crime-thriller nevertheless. If you enjoy the new wave of north European crime films, such as the recent Headhunters, then this one should offer you something too. It wraps the genre up in the unique ambiance that northern European films do.