Just last week I watched 'Fúsi,' which focused on an overweight person with a childlike mind. Now there’s another excellent Icelandic film centered around livestock farmers. It's one of the best films about farmers I've seen, and it isn't solely concerned with their farms—it explores the love and dedication they have for their work. The movie depicts the tradition of raising animals passed down through generations who chose to stay in their ancestral village rather than seek a better life elsewhere. But what happens when an unforeseen threat emerges that jeopardizes the way of life they’ve always known? That's essentially what this film is about. The story revolves around two brothers, Gummi and Kiddi, who haven't spoken in decades; they live next door to each other in a remote village raising sheep. When one of their rams wins a prestigious regional competition, it leads to the discovery of a potential scrapie epidemic—a disease that could wipe out their local breeds. Following this incident, the conflict between the brothers intensifies. The events that unfold after the entire village loses its livelihood due to a viral infection lead to a dramatic conclusion. This is why watching international films can be so rewarding; it provides an opportunity to learn about different cultures and unfamiliar subjects. Nowadays, Hollywood primarily produces big-budget superhero movies. Films on this scale are rare, but I don’t feel like I'm missing out because of my interest in cinema from around the world. I appreciate realistic films, and while this film delivers a cinematic experience with Iceland’s stunning landscapes, most of it takes place during winter, though the crucial outdoor scenes were filmed earlier. Still, the second half is the strongest part of the storytelling; after all, Iceland without ice or snow is hard to imagine. > "If we've scrapie in the valley, we're screwed." The story has a minor plot twist roughly halfway through that’s fairly predictable. However, the third act was truly impressive because the pace quickens and brings an unexpected ending. I did feel somewhat let down by how it wrapped up, though. I prefer details to straightforward explanations in a film’s conclusion—that kind of thing is more effective for movies planning a sequel. What I mean is that the end should have been a bit clearer about what actually transpired; if the focus is on the brothers rather than the livestock, then the overall theme feels slightly misaligned with everything that happens. I was inclined to give it a near-perfect score, but the finale diminished my enjoyment of this wonderful drama. The lead actor from 'Virgin Mountain' appears in a brief role during a few scenes. I’ve heard that the ram who appeared in this film, named Garpur, received credit, but his performance wasn’t particularly remarkable. The movie unfolds at a slow pace, which I appreciate when a story needs time to develop and tell its tale perfectly. There are moments of dark humor throughout, so it's a semi-tragic comedy. The initial parts, perhaps the first act, resemble an ordinary rural narrative. However, if you familiarize yourself with the story and characters beforehand, you might find the pacing more comfortable. This film was submitted to the recent Oscars as Iceland’s entry but didn't advance to the final round. Forget about the American Academy Awards; it remains a superb movie. I would certainly recommend it—it has a slow beginning, but you will feel it was worth watching by the end. 8/10

Source on TMDB