In our announcement about the German premiere of “Lamb” as part of the Fantasy Filmfest 2021, we mentioned the work ““. There is hardly anything to add to that today – perhaps only that the production of debutant director Valdimar Jóhannsson is one of the most atmospheric and emotional genre works in a long time.
“Lamb“ runs today, November 2, 2023 at 11:45 PM on WDR. Alternatively, you can watch the FSK 16 title for free for four weeks in the ARD media library. However, due to the age restriction, this is only possible from 10 p.m. – unless you register there and confirm your age. Of course, (4K) Blu-ray, DVD and paid video-on-demand are also available from online retailers:
Noomi Rapace is waiting for you in the lead role. The Swede once became a world star with Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, consisting of ‘Glamour’, ‘Damnation’ and ‘Forgiveness’. Starring at their side are Icelandic mimes Hilmir Snær Guðnason (“101 Reykjavik”) and Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, who played Eist Tuirseach in the first season of the Netflix hit “The Witcher”.
“Lamb” on WDR: that’s the story
Ingvar (Guðnason) and Maria (Rapace) run a small farm in the middle of the virtually deserted mountains of Iceland. In the very harsh environment, both in terms of landscape and weather, they devotedly care for their flock of sheep. But something has been disrupting their previously harmonious coexistence for some time. There seems to be something unspoken between the couple.
When a strange hybrid of a lamb and a human baby is born in their stable one night, they accept it as their own without thinking twice. Maria calls it Ada – after the daughter she lost during childbirth a while ago.
The young woman soon becomes completely absorbed in her role as mother and the family idyll seems perfect. However, this feeling does not last long. Shortly afterwards, Pétur (Haraldsson), Ingvar’s outgoing brother, visits and the situation on the farm becomes increasingly tense…
‘Lamb’ is an emotional rollercoaster ride
Anyone who watches ‘Lamb’ will quickly be amused and moved by the apparently absurd situation, but certainly also quite irritated. On the one hand, we understand Maria’s desire to have children and also Ingvar’s passivity, as this dream seems to come true in a rather unusual way. On the other hand, we are of course amazed at what is happening in this microcosm closed off from the outside world. And what Maria does to the biological mother of her little darling is deeply shocking.
When the brother or brother-in-law arrives, a new dynamic enters the story. Haraldsson plays his character loudly, rudely and as a huge threat to the young family’s happiness. Naturally, we suspect that such a story cannot lead to a classic happy ending. And yet we are as surprised as we are shocked and fascinated by what ‘Lamb’ presents to us as the resolution of its brilliant slow-burn structure. These final moments lend themselves to long and passionate discussions.
Director Valdimar Jóhannsson also shared work on the script with writer and poet Sjón (“The Northman”). The real name Sigurjón Birgir Sigurðsson from Reykjavík has been working with the art-pop singer Björk since his youth. All three were nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 2001 for the soundtrack song ‘I’ve Seen It All’ from ‘Dancer In The Dark’, co-written by Björk, Sjón and director Lars von Trier.
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Source : Film Starts
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
