Imagine a really long episode of Seinfeld fused with Little Miss Sunshine, where the characters speak in Icelandic and theyre all crammed in two coach buses on their way to a wedding ceremony. Thats the basis of Country Wedding.
This comedy by director Valdís Óskarsdóttir takes a look at the chaotic wedding day of a young couple (Inga and Bardi) who have planned a small family wedding in the countryside. Theyve rented two buses: one for the brides relations and one for the grooms. And in such close quarters on a long road nothing but the most absurd insecurities emerge in each character and every situation. Moms boyfriend is secretly dating the brides closest childhood friend. The guy who wasnt invited to the wedding isnt actually a psychologist like he says. Daddys got a drinking problem and its only getting worse. And of course, grandma is slightly senile, so youll need to keep an eye on her so she doesnt escape.
While the wedding party is made up of an admittedly stock set of characters, you cant help but chuckle at the cliché dysfunctional family routine that we somehow love to watch. And despite the somewhat formulaic situations portrayed in the film, the comedy manages to stay subtle and well executed. It finds humour in everyday situations (plus all the screw-ups in between), making it a clever comedy that revels in lifes awkward moments.
Though it may not be a masterpiece, Country Wedding is certainly a barrel of understated Icelandic fun and at times, it might even surprise you.
(Sveitabruðkaup ehf)This comedy by director Valdís Óskarsdóttir takes a look at the chaotic wedding day of a young couple (Inga and Bardi) who have planned a small family wedding in the countryside. Theyve rented two buses: one for the brides relations and one for the grooms. And in such close quarters on a long road nothing but the most absurd insecurities emerge in each character and every situation. Moms boyfriend is secretly dating the brides closest childhood friend. The guy who wasnt invited to the wedding isnt actually a psychologist like he says. Daddys got a drinking problem and its only getting worse. And of course, grandma is slightly senile, so youll need to keep an eye on her so she doesnt escape.
While the wedding party is made up of an admittedly stock set of characters, you cant help but chuckle at the cliché dysfunctional family routine that we somehow love to watch. And despite the somewhat formulaic situations portrayed in the film, the comedy manages to stay subtle and well executed. It finds humour in everyday situations (plus all the screw-ups in between), making it a clever comedy that revels in lifes awkward moments.
Though it may not be a masterpiece, Country Wedding is certainly a barrel of understated Icelandic fun and at times, it might even surprise you.