Rent Woman at War (2018)

A little gem! - Woman at War review by DO

Quirky, fun film, addressing profound environmental issues. Billed as a thriller, it’s more a human drama, clever twists, amusing touches, and hide-behind the- sofa suspense. Other pluses- a glimpse of Icelandic life; great panoramas of dramatic landscape, and enjoyed the director’s discussion in the ‘extras’.

The Perfect Movie? - Woman at War review by HO

Can't tell you how much i loved this film! Have even included an exclamation mark. Got a soft spot for Icelandic films but they are usually so bleak as well as brilliant. This is full of humour, as well as some bleakness. Beautiful filming, wonderful characters, redemption, meaning, loads of bureaucratic hypocrites, a yogi, it's got everything. Wonderful stuff.

A fabulous film for our times - Woman at War review by RCO

What's not to like. Its funny, serious, dramatic, tense, human, romantic, eco-themed, beautifully shot, stunning landscapes, strong characters, and some lovely surreal elements.

In short its got everything. Right from the start we get deeply involved in Halla's story with well paced reveals to more depths to her character - not only an eco-warrior, but she also teaches singing with a choir, and wants to adopt a child but may be too old, and has a twin sister who has a different kind of strength.

Even the ending is perfect, and can be seen as a metaphor for the coming troubles. Will she get to the other side - we hope so, and if anyone will she should.

Woman at War - do not miss this treat - Woman at War review by EG

What a film - the most unusual, funny and intriguing I have seen in a long time.  The serious theme is sweetened by a wonderful, fearless heroine, a tiny pop-up ‘chamber orchestra’, a trio of Icelandic singing ladies and a stunning and demanding landscape.  If this all sounds too bizarre, it’s not - watch it!  I absolutely loved it and will watch it again with delight.

This is a truly special foreign language/sub-titled film from Iceland. 100% absorbing. - Woman at War review by DW

Category 12 (no swearing or sexual content) with a fully relevant eco message, this a great opportunity to watch as a family unit.

Credible story line, family bonds on display, make-your-own-mind-up ending, amusing cameo performance from a character who excelled at being in the wrong place at the wrong time, questionably "typical" Iceland music from a non-speaking trio plus songs from another trio in authentic Icelandic garb!

Plenty for a family of 3 or more to discuss, as the closing credits roll by.

A Middle-Aged Woman Outsmarting Everyone? Whatever next! - Woman at War review by Strovey

I am not a connoisseur of Icelandic films but I have seen two in fairly close succession and before we get to my opinion of this particular film you have to be aware of the style of films they appear to be. Without doubt pacing is slower and histrionics and big showy acting is out. But from the two films I saw I definitely got a feeling that somewhere behind the nuts and bolts, the making of the film those responsible were quietly chuckling. Woman at War is billed as a drama comedy but Lamb was not, yet somewhere there was a smile in the making, even amongst the dark and weird storyline.

Woman at War certainly has a smile throughout, it is not belly laugh or silly but the makers, whilst trying to get a serious and earnest point across definitely do not take themselves ultra seriously. Just to underline this the background music is provided by a trio of Icelandic musicians who sit in the background playing their instruments and watching the action and slightly reacting to it. Later on, they appear to be joined by Ukrainian traditional singers in traditional costumes, the story and the financing is partly Ukrainian. Quirky and I found it funny but I can imagine it could annoy other viewers.

Benedikt Erlingsson the director and writer, alongside Olafur Egilsson, certainly makes no bones or disguises where he lies when it comes to the environment and the role big industry currently plays in the world. Is it biased and only shows one side of the coin? Yes it is but the truth probably leans more towards his viewpoint particularly in the six years since the film was released.

Very much like Lamb, the film has an unsung star and that is the beautiful, civilisation-free, scenery of the Icelandic Highlands and anyone who thinks that this part of the world really needs powerlines, industrial buildings and all the trapping those bring perhaps needs to see the side of the coin presented here.

The film centres around our main character Halla played with a natural ‘everywoman’ energy by Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, and without her magnetism and believable display Woman at War would sink into the mire of the category non-English language forgettable. She also doubles up as the unlikely and massive, obvious, plot-point twin sister Asa.

Whilst the tale of an unlikely fifty-year-old eco-warrior blowing up powerlines, escaping modern policing, and tracking methods is wholly unlikely it is enjoyable and as the film meanders along you do begin to wonder if there is a point to the story or if it is a demonstration film for potential aggressive and let us face violent environmentalists.

The McGuffin that drives Halla to make fateful decisions and ponder on her path is the adaptation of a Ukrainian orphan who has no family due to war. The problem was this device, this driver of the story is in a way a serious point and the path taken by Halla and her sister is so unlikely and ridiculous, considering how much Halla wanted to adopt, that you feel the director/writer dedicated little time of thought to this part of the story.

The normal-person Mission Impossible action is great and shows how you could avoid detection but Halla is not indestructible like Tom Cruise, needs help and only just gets away. It is fun and well put together. Likewise, the Icelandic makers do not shy away from the seemingly inherent racism of some of their people by having a running ‘joke’ where a Colombia bicycle tourist keeps getting hauled in by the authorities, the implication being because he is brown, not Icelandic and near the area he has something to do with it.

If you like to see films made from other cultures and country's point of view then Woman at War is a good film but if your patience with the pacing and speed of storytelling is short be prepared for the fast-forward button to be used.

Quirky, Fun, Entertaining Icelandic Eco-Thriller and Comedy - Woman at War review by PV

I enjoyed this. Like all Icelandic films I have seen (all 3 of them maybe) it is off-beat and quirky. OF HORSES AND MEN (2013) sticks in the memory.

I had feared this would be some sort of preachy angry man-bashing feminist lecture of a movie. It isn't.

Instead, this is an interesting, entertaining and well-plotted story told well. Some Hollywood tricks are used to keep the viewer on their toes - the whole reason a cardboard cutout 2-D character (on a bike) even features at all (no spoilers).

I was prepared to suspend my disbelief with both this and the ending because the story is developed well and the main character is believable and sympathetic, however misguided.

4 stars