Original subtitles

Political scientists say that it's doubtful

that Benedikt can keep his promise.

[ON TV] Benedikt is in a difficult situation

because if he fulfills his promise,

he's ignoring the will of the majority of voters.

Why did you sleep here?

Um, Grimur...

I'm just...

We can discuss it later.

We can't trust him.

- We've seen it before. - Eggert.

It will be okay.

Benedikt will come around.

It would be best if the nation itself

would write the coalition agreement.

On Twitter or something.

"Benedikt Rikardsson should become

"Iceland's next prime minister."

Fuck.

Is this popular?

We should take care of our values and integrity,

but we also have to listen to our hearts.

And mine tells me that

for the first and only time,

I'm going to betray my word.

Leo.

You're so great.

The nation... We're at a crossroads.

I'm sorry. I'm not finished.

We're at a crossroads regarding the system.

It hasn't developed. It's not fit for the 21st century.

The nation needs politicians with a clear policy.

Not a theologian who's going every way at once.

Well...

Are you telling us that the Progressive Party

has always had a clear policy?

Yes, and the nation likes it.

Why have people stopped voting, then?

Exactly.

I admit that more people should vote.

Please...

The People's Party supports electronic voting.

This is an unbelievable stream of promises.

I'll explain it. Be very quick.

Are you going to allow him to keep going like this?

You look so great in that seat.

- Hi. - Hi.

Did you sleep?

You have to take care of your routine.

Work, work...

The ship will sink if the captain sleeps.

As I remember it...

It looked grander.

Right. Marble columns

and mounted animal heads.

I had it all removed.

The new parliament will commence later today.

It will first select a new speaker.

Our sources tell us that Hallgrimur Tomasson,

member of the Independence Party,

will be elected as speaker.

According to the Secretary General,

the ceremony will be traditional,

with members initially meeting in the cathedral...

What's going on here?

We're renovating.

Renovating?

This is the oldest church in the valley.

Well...

Come on. Put it back.

I own it.

I've got all the permits needed.

Of course a man like you attacks Christianity.

There are five churches here in this valley,

20 in the fjord.

Jesus Christ doesn't need them all.

This is a holy house.

And you're making it into a summer house.

Rikardur, it's been decommissioned.

It should be respected.

Yes, it will be a wedding suite.

Wedding suite?

For the hotel they're going to build down here.

This is sacrilege.

Send God a letter.

- Give it back. - Leave him alone.

Benedikt, I love you.

Now the members will elect the speaker of Althing.

The law states

the candidates have to be nominated.

I have one nomination.

The honorable member of parliament,

Hallgrimur Tomasson,

first member of the southwest district,

is the elected speaker of parliament.

I want to congratulate him and wish him good luck

and ask him to take over.

Congratulations.

The numbers are good right now

because of the election,

but we have to do a lot to keep our readers.

We'll go down a bit now.

I would like to stop pumping out news

and write few but detailed reports.

You know.

Yes, great.

Hmm.

What's the deal with Hrefna?

- Were you okay with it? - Uh...

I mean, she doesn't have a network. Sorry.

Are you okay?

Yes. Sorry.

- What's wrong? - It's okay.

- Welcome. - Thank you.

Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting?

It's over. I found the royal grand.

I'll guess you're talking about a musical instrument.

The royal grand, Hrefna.

We bought it when the king came to Iceland in 1907.

There was no instrument in the country fit for a king.

We even imported a piano player

because nobody could play a grand piano here.

The thing is...

It was only played once.

- What then? - What then?

It was forgotten.

It was put up for auction where everything was bought

except the royal grand piano.

Then it was left in a field for a whole summer.

Then Jonas from Hrifla bought it,

for his school.

There...

There...

The schoolboys pissed in it.

Good morning.

Benedikt.

The piano's in here.

- Come in. - Thank you.

It's like new.

Don't you want some coffee?

Yes, please.

- May I? - Please.

Wow.

- Let's buy it. - What?

Let's buy it.

Um...

Yes...

- Good morning. - Morning.

Here.

- Do you need anything else? - No, thank you.

4,800 kronas.

- Would you like a bag? - Uh, no, thank you.

Oh.

- Thank you. - Thanks.

Dad.

You didn't have to come, but it's nice to see you.

What...

They were going to destroy the old church at Vellir.

I took a stand with the church.

Aren't you going to the police?

The bishop must decide.

What?

I'm going to meet the church council.

I'm talking about your bruises.

What?

You're all black and blue. Go to the police.

I'm not the main thing here.

Guomundur the Good was the priest in this church

before he became a bishop.

It can't be turned into a wedding suite.

But he got permission, that's why I came to the capital.

I'm going to stop it.

- Is that yours? - Yes.

You receive me like a foreign dignitary.

But you'll only get the guest room at home.

You're going to look into the thing with the church?

- Look, I agree with you, but... - Right.

You'll look into it.

Benedikt!

Good morning.

Hi.

Didn't Benedikt tell you that I was coming?

No.

It's okay.

Is there something wrong?

What?

Oh!

I'm...

I thought since you lost the...

Yeah, I just...

Me, too.

It's a miracle.

You're going to be a wonderful parent.

And Benedikt, too.

Thank you.

Hello, my love.

Sorry I'm calling so late,

but I've been very busy.

Of course. Aren't you going to eat with us?

Yeah, about that.

I forgot to tell you, I need to work.

No problem. I'll put Sindri to bed.

Thanks, Mom.

The bishop has to do something.

It's happening everywhere.

The church at Stoovarfjorour is a hotel.

The one in Eskifjorour is a house now.

Blonduos... I don't even know what it is.

Mammon is taking over the houses of the Lord.

It has to be stopped before Christianity has lost.

I understand you.

I don't like it any more than you do

that rich tourists will be tempted

to have sex on the altar.

Thank you.

But this church has been decommissioned.

We have no control over it anymore.

As you know, the state owns the land, not us.

Are you nuts?

Hi, can I get a pint?

Hi.

- Hi! - I'll buy.

You're late. Working late, of course.

- That's 1,500. - Thanks.

Aren't you coming? We're here in the corner.

Well, look who's here.

Shouldn't we toast the prime minister's aide?

Cheers.

She'll be great.

You'll become the prime minister one day.

You'll be a power couple, sharing the power.

Cheers, Hrefna.

Cheers.

The prime minister has the case.

No, we'll just have to wait and see.

No. He supports the church.

Yes. Great.

I'm just finishing up.

- Is everything all right? - Yes.

You know, you can always talk to me.

It was terrible to hear about him and Svanhvit,

that he's sleeping with her.

Did you know?

Okay.

Is it an arrangement?

Hrefna.

Sorry.

Cheers. Cheers.

And what?

Already working for your own interests?

What do you mean?

Aren't they going to stop hunting you?

Huh. Who's hunting me?

I mean... No whale hunting.

Mmm-hmm. Right, because Hrefna is the name of a whale.

It was a terrible joke. Terrible.

I regret it immediately.

Really.

Did you think about it all the way up here?

All the way.

Thank you for the beer.

I'm off.

I'm so afraid.

Oh.

Ooh.

Not everyone is allowed to sleep

with the minister of the interior.

Let alone the speaker of parliament.

Wait... What...

I'll talk to you tomorrow regarding the legislation.

Thanks for tonight.

- Thank you. - No problem.

It's finally home.

- Finally. - Yes.

Yes, thank you.

Yeah. Pleasure speaking to you.

Yeah, okay, bye.

How did it go?

Very well.

Is your chiropractor article becoming international?

I don't know about that.

The Brits are the only ones discussing it.

Where can I see it?

It was just an interview,

but it'll be broadcast on Friday there.

Okay. The world might want to see this.

"The prime minister saves the church at Vellir."

What?

Benedikt is making a huge mistake.

Why haven't we published this?

What about Steinunn?

It's today's top story.

We can stop publishing if we're not going to cover this.

Yes.

And flip it.

Well done.

Go to Grandma.

- Hi. - Hi, it's Ottar. How are you?

Fine. How are you?

Good. What about the church thing?

- Yes, what do you mean? - Up north.

Right. I'm just looking...

Can I get a comment from Benedikt?

I'll check for you.

As soon as possible, please. Will you call me?

I will.

"The prime minister's office

"is going to stop the renovation

"of the church at Vellir,

"according to our sources."

The source is Rikardur. His friend wrote the story.

What nonsense is this? You said I had permission.

He doesn't have the power to interfere.

He doesn't?

"Rikardur says that the prime minister

"is thinking about revoking

"the permit from the county."

He doesn't have the authority to do that.

Okay.

Listen, regarding the news.

Yes, it's great that you're interested.

We need more news about culture.

I've bought

the royal grand piano on behalf of the government.

It has a great history.

Hrefna.

Talk to me, please.

What's the deal with the piano?

- What piano? - The one over there.

The royal grand.

What is it doing here?

Benedikt decided to save it.

Do you think it should be here?

I don't know, Thora. I'm a bit busy.

If you're going to put a piano here,

you have to go through the right processes...

You decide. So...

You'll figure it out, right?

They thought it was a machine for making sausages and...

Sorry.

I want to ask you about the church at Vellir.

Why is the prime minister interfering with the renovation?

- Benedikt, may I? - Yes...

We're not finished.

Please turn it off, I have to talk to you.

Yes.

Regarding the renovation of the church

that you're stopping...

The minister doesn't have a comment right now.

We'll be in touch.

Thank you.

Right, show it to me.

All the media says that you're interfering with the renovation

of a church in your father's parish.

Prime minister bans church renovation

I only told him I would take a look.

Okay. We have to back out.

What if we don't?

Then we're violating administrative law.

See how beautiful it is.

Destroying a church like that...

There's no shortage of churches.

It's your father's parish.

Yes.

Our coalition agreement states

that ministers will not work in the interest of their relatives.

We have to react now.

You have to go through these.

Then there's a visit from schoolchildren at 2:00.

You should be able to receive them before the session.

Thanks.

Where do you want it?

What is that?

- A grand piano. - What's going on?

- Who sent this? - The prime minister's office.

Benedikt?

Yes, he bought it and they wanted to get rid of it.

There was no room for it.

We don't have any room either.

We were told to transport it here.

Should we just push it into the foyer?

No.

Leave it there.

The news stories are incorrect.

I can't save the church at Vellir.

We know.

But I've thought a lot about

- the situation of the church. - Yes?

Yes.

The relationship between church and state has been

an abusive one from the beginning.

It began in 1551, when the king killed two bishops and stole

a third of the land owned by the church.

Since then, the state has continued to take and take.

And now the church doesn't own anything.

Do you know how much land it is?

Yes, I know.

About 45% of the land in the country.

And what happens in abusive relationships?

The weaker party becomes codependent.

Exactly.

But the state agreed to pay our priests' wages.

Yes, wages determined by the state alone,

that it cuts down regularly.

We're often really defensive.

The church is always apologizing.

You have stopped going to schools

because the politicians don't want you to.

And if some capitalist wants to buy a church

and turn it into a hotel, you just say "yes" and "amen."

The church is in trouble.

It has to be saved.

We've often discussed this.

I think it would be best to separate church and state.

Wait a minute.

- Isn't this a bit too much? - No, Dad.

This is only the right thing to do.

We have to free the church

and return the land.

Ottar, the Brits are going crazy.

Because of your interview.

"The UK Chiropractors Association."

Yes.

They say they've helped a lot of people.

I'm just basing it on our experience, here in Iceland.

Yes.

It'll blow over.

Church and state?

Is Benedikt here?

He's on his way from the bishop.

Yes, the bishop called me.

Shouldn't you at least let the minister

for ecclesiastical affairs know first?

Formally, you're not the minister

for ecclesiastical affairs.

That ministry doesn't exist anymore.

The ministry of the interior handles church matters.

Are we really discussing

the separation of church and state?

The agreement between the church and state is highly complicated.

Hrefna, please...

Great. You're here, listen...

We have to prepare the separation of church and state.

Right. The bishop called me.

- We can do it in the summer. - Can I please

have a say in this, since this matter is under my ministry?

Yes.

The party doesn't agree with this.

But maybe the average member of the party

doesn't really know what it's all about.

Isn't that a good reason to discuss it further?

Right. Don't we have parliament for that?

Can we wait a bit with changing the constitution?

Technically, we don't need to

change the constitution to do it.

Just so it's clear,

the Independence Party supports

the relationship between church and state.

Damn it.

Get the boys together. The piano.

Boys, come with me.

We don't have time.

Kindergarten

The prime minister

reportedly stated that he was going

to stop a decommissioned church

from being changed into a hotel suite.

Or so says a local paper...

- Hrefna. - Hello.

This is Holmfriour at the kindergarten.

Sindri is waiting here alone.

Sorry, I thought his dad...

That's not our business.

This is the second time this week.

I'm sorry. It won't happen again.

I'm on my way.

Sorry, I'm late.

This looks great.

Have you and Dad eaten?

Yes, I'm finished.

Listen...

I've got news...

I've got great news as well.

I took a giant leap forward...

Mmm. What's this spice?

Cardamom.

Are you cardamoming me? It's great.

We took a great leap forward in separating church and state.

Are you really going to do that?

Enjoy your food.

- Did we wake you? - No, no.

Sit down.

I have to talk to you.

Dad, it's no problem.

I understand. I forgive you.

No, no. You might think you're helping the church.

Mmm-hmm.

I think you're making a huge mistake.

- You can't behave this way. - Dad.

You lied to your friend at the local paper

that I would fix it.

It was all taken out of context.

Yes?

I just told him you were going to look into it.

That's what I'm doing.

I'm going to resurrect the church.

Resurrect?

You're destroying it. Don't you understand?

I'm going to lose my job and all the small parishes...

It's not personal. I'm thinking about the whole church.

Does the party agree?

We talked to the party and the party said...

Are you working against me in my own party?

I'm just working for the church.

If the church thinks that you can run the country through me,

then that's a misunderstanding.

- Listen to me, boy. - I'm not interested.

What kind of nonsense is this?

She's pregnant and...

- I hadn't told him. - Sorry.

I just...

I'm sorry.

Are you pregnant?

Yes.

We're going to have a baby?

Yes.

There?

In there.

[OVER PHONE] Good evening. Is that you, Benni?

Yes.

We haven't spoken for a long time. How've you been?

I'm becoming a dad.

But you know, of course.

You did it yourself. I try to help...

I've been thinking about you.

What's going on?

This church thing.

Yes, that old question about church and state.

- Isn't it just nice as it is? - Are you against it, too?

It's no big deal.

- Everybody disagrees with me. - It doesn't matter to me.

- Leo. Come. - Change is always difficult.

Follow your conscience, and it'll be all right.

That's true. Leo, come.

Love you.

Leo.

Building is empty upstairs.

1-N, come in.

We can't disregard the system whenever we want to.

This is far too important

to deal with in a summer session.

Apart from that, we're in the middle of a lot of things.

Changes in the tax system, the new hospital.

We can't let everything go to a committee.

We have to discuss this at the general assembly.

I just want us to have great ambitions.

Great ambitions.

But it's not possible.

So you all think that we should put this matter on ice?

Mmm-hmm.

Mmm-hmm.

All right.

I've got a compromise.

- Mmm? - I'll give it to you.

"A parliamentary resolution

"on a binding referendum."

Right.

This matter concerns the whole nation.

If parliament passes the resolution,

the Icelandic nation can finally vote

on the relationship between church and state.

And the result will be binding.

Listen...

Everything will go crazy if you put this up for vote.

That's how it is.

Then everything will just go crazy.

Grimur. We have to talk.

What are you two doing?

Us?

I've got nothing to do with it.

Really? Is it just him?

Okay, we can't let it be known that the party

is going to separate church and state.

You have to be on your toes.

- Me? - The speaker of parliament

decides the agenda. You have to stop it.

You want me to go against the chairman?

- Only you can stop this. - The party will support you.

I'll...

Keep that in mind.

Good.

Good morning.

What are you doing with the nation's grand piano?

What's going on?

They're going to auction it off.

What?

What do you mean? It's a national treasure.

They say there's no room for it.

Then we make room.

Where?

It was in Eggert's parking space last night and he wasn't happy.

Send it to me.

The prime minister's office.

Okay.

Well, Grimur.

Now we'll do this together.

- This is challenging. - Mmm-hmm.

But...

We can't do it this way.

Oh?

Didn't Thorgeir Ljosvetningagooi decide in one night

that we were a Christian nation?

Yes, but things have changed since the year 1000.

Look.

You're shooting yourself in the foot

if you allow your own party to stop your first big thing.

Yes.

No, it's a matter of principle.

I'll create a committee

that will analyze it and then we take it from there.

No, then it will just die.

Well,

we can't put it like that on my parliament's agenda.

Your parliament?

Benedikt.

You put your best man as speaker

to make sure things were done the right way.

True?

- Benni. - Yes.

I'll take care of it.

Yes.

- Okay. - Trust me.

They're suing me.

Who?

The UK Chiropractors Association.

Because of the interview on BBC.

UK lawsuit. That costs a lot of money.

The paper will pay for it, won't they?

I don't know.

Talk to Steinunn right away.

What were you thinking?

I'm just writing the news.

Not our news.

But it's based on our article.

You should have talked to us

before you started ranting in the British media.

Look, everything I said is true.

And it's well supported...

Supported?

Would it hold up in court?

Yes...

Do you realize how brutal British defamation law is?

Ottar?

We have to be able to report the news.

This is not news.

This is you alone saying something in an interview.

Doesn't your insurance cover it?

I would say it's in a very gray area.

But we take care of our people.

I'll put a lawyer on it.

Thank you, Steinunn.

You're doing great, boys.

Hello, there. How are you?

Well, well. That's governing.

Like the man said,

"What men seek can't be found in government."

Thank you, boys.

No problem, just call if you need it moved again.

No...

It's home now.

Just look how they treat us.

That's beautiful.

The church and state thing ended well.

- Yes, don't you think? - Mmm-hmm.

They'll put it to a committee

that will discuss it for a thousand hours and...

And then they'll decide,

"It's too complex and uncomfortable."

And nothing will change, like always.

No.

Everything is going to change.

Then everything goes crazy.

Just a second.

Benedikt, quick.

You know, I'm just getting warmed up.