Original subtitles

The honorable member of parliament,

Hallgrimur Tomasson,

has been elected Speaker of parliament.

What's going on here?

We're renovating.

Renovating? This is the oldest church in the valley.

Well, look who's here.

Shouldn't we toast to the Prime Minister's aide?

She'll be great.

Not everybody is allowed to fuck

the Minister of the Interior.

Wait, what...

Hi.

Hi. It's Ottar. How are you?

- Fine. How are you? - Good.

What about the church renovation?

I'll check it out.

Dad, you lied to a friend at a local paper

- that I would fix it like that. - What nonsense?

She's pregnant.

Are you pregnant?

Yes.

Running a country is a high-pressure job.

Of course.

You probably know why he quit his studies abroad.

He studied too much and had to go to a mental hospital

and then he decided to go home.

The report doesn't say

his diagnosis is "too much studying."

And you don't want that report to become public.

I've been waiting.

I need it right now.

Thank you. Okay.

I had the garage painted. Hi, there.

There will be a spa here for the tourists.

Here is the golf course.

And here is the hotel.

I think this will be a miracle for the people there.

Luxury tourism and everything.

Tourists will even fly straight to Akureyri.

And it will lift the county.

I have to ask the Minister.

Wasn't this supposed to be ready ages ago?

Yes, Minister of Home Affairs. There was a small delay...

But now it's ready.

And I'll fly up north this afternoon and sign it.

I'll come with you.

Uh...

They are expecting me, Prime Minister.

Great, you'll come with me then.

But this has been worked on in my ministry from the start,

so I'm the one that should finish it.

Right.

Thank you, everybody.

I'm just going to...

Benedikt?

Are you free?

Absolutely!

There are great things happening up north. Come with me.

Hi.

Hello.

- I had a great time. - Me, too.

What, busy?

Busy?

Yes.

Bella torta.

What?

I mean... Great cake, Italian.

Are you avail...

- Shall we? - Yes.

Well...

Shouldn't we finish the meeting then?

Yes.

It's great for such a small community.

I'm proud and looking forward to it.

- Thank you. - Thanks.

Why is there a cake?

Uh...

Why?

Because everything is better with a cake.

Let's say you get a parking ticket.

Is it better with or without a cake?

- With a cake. - Exactly.

It's a "why not" cake.

It's an old-school cake.

Of course it should be 100% vegan,

we need to do our part for the climate.

And the government

has fought for a new climate plan.

But I'm an old country boy, and I love a chocolate cake,

cream and a glass of milk.

Not coffee. Coffee with cake is disgusting.

Listen.

So...

Uh...

Can you get me a ticket on the next plane to Akureyri?

Benedikt, you've got a schedule.

Please, can I go?

It's a bit of a problem, you're supposed to be at a meeting.

They're finishing a great deal there and...

Eggert's aide will allow him to go.

Yes, okay.

Yes!

If you ever have to get out of a meeting,

or go to Akureyri, just talk to me. Okay?

Sure.

I'm very proud that we finished this deal.

This is the foundation of tourism in the north.

Wasn't there a problem with the planning permissions?

Benedikt.

Isn't there a queue?

Uh...

- Here you are. - Sorry.

Wasn't there a problem with the planning?

Yes. Nature conservation issues.

Thanks!

The hotel fulfils every demand.

It's great for the county.

- Benedikt. - Right.

Give them my regards.

Salome?

Hi.

- Are you alone? - Yes.

Hey...

Would you mind switching seats?

Aren't you with the suit over there?

Yes, but you're much more fun.

Just sit there.

- No problem. - Next to that guy.

And don't allow him to discuss politics.

No.

- Hello. - Hello, Eggert.

- Maria. - Hello, Maria.

It's been years. You haven't changed at all.

I'm not sure I agree.

Are you going north for that tourist abomination?

What do you mean?

I thought it had been stopped.

It's a dream project, 100 jobs, great income,

everything permitted and great.

Benedikt, you know it's in the middle of the bird sanctuary?

Straight in the middle? No.

- Yes. - Really?

Yes, fuck the small birds

so the people can get money from foreigners.

Are you still playing?

I moved the grand piano into my office.

Really, the one and only?

- Yes. - Benedikt.

Hello.

I haven't seen you two together for years.

I saw on the news you were coming.

I was going to offer you a ride.

It's just a quick visit.

Salome will drive me.

I invited him over for coffee.

- Would you like to join us? - Why not?

No. Dad...

doesn't drink coffee anymore, right?

I... Well...

Bye.

No, no...

- Is it the Dragon? - Yes.

It has to be coddled a bit, but it still works.

You're a miracle worker.

- Where are you going? - For a cup of coffee.

Coffee?

The ceremony is in a short while.

Right.

- Hi. - Hello, niece.

My niece, the council director. Mmm.

Was Benedikt going to come?

He kind of forced me to take him with me.

Isn't that great?

- And take our credit? - No, maybe not.

Well...

Any news?

I was offered the job of hotel director.

Oh?

Thank you.

You're still working in the theater?

Yes.

Weren't you going to write a musical for me?

Yes, right.

Melodia. Based on the old manuscript.

I had forgotten about it.

We've got a premiere next month.

And you have a little bit of a credit there.

- Oh? - Mmm.

Remember when you were 20 years old

and you wrote me a poem? Remember?

Yes.

What did it sound like again?

Wait...

Anyway...

We're using your translation, is that all right?

Yes. Of course!

This is what your mother fought for.

She convinced everyone who lives here,

wrote to all the members of Althing,

fought and fought again.

My mom helped her.

This is what they wanted to protect.

This is their legacy.

And Eggert Einarsson has made it so

that we can create a lot of jobs.

On behalf of the county council,

I want to thank him.

And here is the Prime Minister to sign the agreement.

Sorry I'm late.

Hello.

Hello. Right.

"Our beautiful small friends," the poet said...

"and blind men find no pleasure...

"In growing a garden."

Here in the mouth of the valley

is godwits' paradise.

The fortress of the terns.

They are emissaries of the Almighty in the northern tundra.

And even though the cruel winter banishes them every fall,

they return every spring.

They are our most loyal guests.

All over the world, we can see ads

about Iceland's unspoiled nature.

And because of that we get

hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

And in the capital, the accountants

love this formula.

Keeping the GDP up

by breaking Mother Nature...

and violating her.

And I know you will say

that the hotel won't affect the bird sanctuary.

But that's not right.

If we only continue to concentrate on selling

cocktails, plastic puffins

and expensive glacier trips to tourists,

the small birds will be crushed under the wheel of industry.

"You've been faithful over a few things.

"I will make you ruler over many things."

This land is already inhabited.

Therefore, I can't see how we could sign this agreement.

I'm sorry about that. Thank you.

- He's calling it off? - What the hell?

I'll check.

- Benedikt. - Yes.

Are you driving?

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Eggert, we can't build on protected lands just like that.

"Just like that"?

This is based on years of work!

This is too important to be wishy-washy.

We have an agreement.

We might be liable. You have to sign!

- Can't. - This is betrayal.

No, signing the agreement would be a betrayal.

Benedikt...

- Good morning. - Right.

- Come with me. - Yes.

- No, you can't... - Dad will drive me.

What the hell is going on?

- Is the deal off? - I'll handle it.

It will be all right.

Hrefna.

Hi, Hrefna. This is Lara Omarsdottir, reporter.

I need information about the signing ceremony up north.

Yes, what do you need?

What happened?

Is the Prime Minister stopping the construction

and if so, does he have the power to do it?

Yes... Right...

- We're going over it. - Yes...

Call me in 30 minutes.

- I will. - Thank you, goodbye.

Fuck.

What the...

What are you doing?

Hrefna.

Hello, this is Sindri, a reporter at Kastljos.

- Regarding the signing... - We're working on it.

Can Benedikt come in for a TV interview tonight?

The ministry can review planning permissions.

I understand but...

Call me later. Thanks.

I want to interview Benedikt about...

Look around. Iceland.

This is Iceland. We have to protect it.

Finally, I'm understanding my job.

It's not as easy for me as it is for you.

The job... it's a difficult one.

I didn't know you had anything to do with it.

You've changed a lot since you became Minister.

Dad...

I know you would do it differently.

Everybody knows that.

That became clear when you started lying

about me in the media.

I'm not talking about that.

- I'm talking about you. - Dad...

Can't we just sit here calmly and listen to music?

Okay?

I'm talking to you.

Stop the car.

- Benedikt. - Stop.

- Listen to me. - Stop the car.

If I can't listen to music,

then I'm going out to listen to nature.

We can speak later.

It's very cute and all that, saving the birds

from the bad capitalists, but...

Is it really what you wanted to do?

I haven't been able to reach him.

How has he been lately?

What do you mean?

The incident in the UK...

Steinunn, after that...

when I heard you were marrying him, I was afraid.

For you.

What do you mean?

It was no joke.

I feel like something is about to happen.

Benedikt has always been like this.

- He's not like other people. - But like this?

If we react appropriately, then this doesn't have to go too far.

Did Dad send you?

No.

No!

I couldn't care less about an old man

who wants to sit on a chair

in an old house and pretend to be a big shot.

- I'm thinking of your husband. - Right. It's just a coincidence

that the day Benedikt goes against Dad's Minister,

you appear.

- Yes, because I can help him. - Thanks, Thorgeir.

But he doesn't need help.

Steinunn, listen to me.

Please.

- Hello. - Hi.

I... I went to the ceremony.

Yes. Is he with you?

I can't reach him.

I was driving him.

Then he insisted I let him out on the side of the road.

- What? - He came here with Salome.

What do you mean?

You can say he was...

a bit energetic.

Listen, I...

I'm coming.

Yes, please.

I'll take the next plane.

Great. I'll be at home.

Okay.

- Thanks. Bye. - Bye.

Is everything all right?

Yes.

- Hello. - I'm completely...

How should I interpret this?

Have we stopped the construction?

I'm as surprised as you.

It's an investment of hundreds of millions!

It looks very bad for the party.

And all because of some birds.

I agree.

Good, because this doesn't work.

Is it legal?

You can be sure they will sue.

The party supports you.

Can I tell the media that?

Yes, you can.

What about Benedikt?

Benedikt?

- I'll talk to him. - Great.

He doesn't listen to me.

- I know how to work him. - Good.

Bye.

The Prime Minister is hindering progress in the country.

Great. Thank you.

- Are you ready, Eggert? - Yes.

Roll.

This will probably delay the construction.

Will you give permission later or is it completely off?

It's very important to review the issue carefully.

The party wants...

Oh, how are you?

Oh...

Hello there.

- Hello, Grimur. - Hello.

Are you calling to berate me?

No, that was great.

Impulsive, but great.

I thought everybody would be angry.

You're in control, and the party supports you.

Eggert is angry.

- He has an agenda. - Oh?

His niece is the director of the council.

I'm told she's been hired

as the director of the hotel.

Really?

It's good you stopped it.

She was going to get shares.

That's ridiculous.

It wouldn't be good if the opposition

referred to the coalition agreement.

Right.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

It's just my job.

"A man alone is only half.

"With others he's more than himself."

Right.

Exactly.

Thanks for calling. I'll see you.

Leo, now we'll just turn off the phone.

Just like that.

Ah, you're so great.

Hey. Look.

Let's ask for a ride. Come on.

Come.

Come here.

Come here, boy.

- Hello! - Hi.

Tell me, is there room for us?

Yeah, I think so... We have space.

Great.

Leo, inside.

Well done!

Thanks for stopping.

Yes, we're reviewing the situation.

The ministry will send you a press release.

We need the ministry's reaction.

This is unacceptable.

Yes, right.

In a moment.

We're reviewing...

Yes, thank you.

Benedikt, you have to return my calls.

Everything is going crazy.

- Hi. - What's going on?

Don't you understand how government works?

Joke.

I just wanted to hear from you.

Thank you.

How's it going? Is it a crisis?

I think I have told every reporter in the country

that we're "reviewing the situation."

Reporters know what that means.

I'm thinking...

Are you hungry?

- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.

- Hi. - Hi.

What? Do you know her?

We're in the same class.

I see...

Something going on?

No, I'm bad at that.

How so?

Just, she's brilliant,

but I don't dare do anything.

How about you? Are you good at it?

Uh...

Okay, I was hopeless...

But experience has shown me you better just do it.

- Wait, what... - Wait.

Ready to order?

- We're about 90% there... - Yes.

When is your shift over?

Uh, 9:00.

My friend Olafur here...

is going to the cinema at 10:00. Alone.

And we were wondering if you wanted to join him.

Okay.

- You'll just call for me. - Yes, in two minutes.

The thing is...

If you find a girl or a boy that's worth talking to,

you can't retreat.

Even though things go against you.

I believe this will end well.

And what now?

The government will continue with the project

despite what the Prime Minister did.

We have a majority, and I'll make sure...

It will happen.

According to...

- Reliable sources... - Mmm.

A certain member of Althing came here every week for decades.

And always ordered the double-barreled.

- "Double-barreled"? - Yes.

Two hot dogs in one bun.

Okay. Double-barreled.

"Double-barreled."

It's a cool word describing a rather nasty thing.

Mmm.

You've got remoulade there.

- Remoulade. - Oh.

What's it like...

- working with Benedikt? - Great.

He's a bit quick, isn't he?

He's the most energetic man I know.

Right.

Sorry.

- Can you... - Yes.

- Jesus. - Do you have to answer?

Finally.

Hi, I have to fire a minister tonight.

- How do I do that? - Wait.

Sorry. What?

We have to fire Eggert.

Wait a second.

Have you talked to him?

I've tried. I think he's on the plane.

- Shouldn't we think about it? - No.

He broke the coalition agreement.

His niece was going to be the director of the hotel

and a shareholder.

Okay, but...

He can't be a minister.

Does it have to happen tonight? Shouldn't we think...

Yes, tonight. Let's finish it.

Okay...

But try to talk to him before we publish the news.

Okay. I'll do that.

What was that?

Sorry, I have to run.

- Oh, no. - Yes, but...

Good meeting you.

Likewise, and thanks for the hot dog.

And the wisdom.

The hot dog philosopher, always ready.

Prime Minister Benedikt Rikardsson

declined today to sign

an agreement about the construction of a hotel

in Svarfadardalur.

The chairman of the Progressive Party

says it's a scandal.

His statement was very vague.

But it seems to me

that he's stopping investment in the country

without reason.

What he's doing is unacceptable and dictatorial.

It will discourage investors.

We haven't been able to reach the Prime Minister.

Rikardur.

Hello.

Hello?

- Hello? - I'm here.

Steinunn, my dear.

Where is he?

Do you know those boys?

Isn't it Olafur?

He lives here in the valley.

I confirmed him six years ago.

He must be with them.

I have to talk to you.

What?

I never told you about Eva.

Benedikt's mother.

Yes...

This was her kingdom.

She painted.

She painted this one.

This is the valley.

This is the area she made a bird sanctuary...

by convincing everyone to help her.

- Rikardur, I have to... - Then...

The symptoms appeared a bit later.

She became depressed.

In what way?

Just...

Lost her joy.

Didn't go out. Only went in here.

Suppressed everything.

Stopped painting.

Just stared at the walls.

It was very difficult.

I went to the capital.

Got pills...

But they had a terrible effect.

She became excited, impulsive, hot-headed.

Stopped sleeping.

So I went back to the capital.

And they...

They told me she was manic-depressive.

Bipolar.

It was very difficult.

In those days...

This was very sensitive.

Eva was very ashamed...

And never admitted it.

Then she didn't want to take her pills,

stopped sleeping again.

She swung up again.

Came in here and...

painted...

for days on end.

The paintings became...

This is the bird sanctuary.

- I've never seen them before. - I've kept them here.

Why?

Then she went back into the darkness.

She had always attended my services.

She sang...

the loudest.

Then she stopped attending.

One day I came home, called her name...

Nobody answered.

I heard Benedikt crying.

He was four years old.

Then...

She was hanging here.

In her nightie.

Oh, my God.

I didn't know.

Nobody knew.

I always said...

She became sick and died. And it was true.

You know, in those days

it was...

We're all our parents' children.

I'm afraid that Benedikt is

a bit too much his mother's son.

Benedikt has always been like that...

A bit up and down.

But never like this.

It's an inherited disease.

He's behaving exactly like his mother did.

You...

You know as well as I do how he is sometimes.

And now he's under great pressure.

Certainly.

He needs a doctor.

I have to find him.

Yes, but where?

I'll find the boys.

Hello.

My name is Steinunn Kvaran. Is Benedikt Rikardsson with you?

No, he just left.

- You didn't see where he went? - No.

- I saw you on TV. - This is ridiculous.

I was finishing an agreement that the government has...

Eggert, I'm not talking about that.

The director of the council, and soon to be director of the hotel

is your niece.

Benedikt. I didn't know that.

Who is going to believe that?

You can't be part of the government anymore.

What?

The coalition agreement isn't just a suggestion.

It's our values, our rules.

It's our promises to the voters.

What do you mean?

We have to fulfil our obligations. We're liable.

- Eggert. - What?

I have to fire you.

- From your position. - What do you mean?

We have to discuss this.

- You can't just fire me... - Goodbye.

What...

Well...

Leo.

Let's go and have some coffee. Come on.

Can you come in with her

because then we can start the feast,

instead of starting with the song

and pulling everything apart...

Hi.

Good evening.

- Fancy meeting you again. - Yes, fancy.

Sorry, I'm disturbing you.

Is she letting you sing my doggerel?

I forgot to tell you that he translated the poem.

Oh, okay.

I translated it when I was 20.

I was...

Young, and...

in love.

A product of my youth.

I just thought it was so beautiful.

The poet was in love, and I was in love...

with...

But it was a long time ago.

When I was going to be something very different from what I am.

Should we sing it for you?

- Please do. - Shall we?

- Orn, want to direct? - Yes.

Nice to see you together.

What are you doing here?

Steinunn, you have to hear this.

- Can you do it again? - We're just finishing.

I don't think we have time.

We have to go if we're going to catch the last plane.

Oh.

Well...

Thank you.

This is the most beautiful thing I've heard.

Thank you for a wonderful day.

Nice to see you. It was wonderful.

I have to go.

So long.

- Bye. - Bye.

He fired me.

I know, I read about it in the papers.

I had started working on this

long before my niece got the offer.

Everybody...

Everybody is related here on this rock.

It looks different in the media.

Now nobody is talking about how he messed up.

Why weren't you more careful?

He himself is doing things for his father

regarding some church.

Yes. He's popular now,

- but he's insane. - Yes.

- Everybody can see that. - No.

I mean, he has a mental disorder.

He was sectioned.

What?

And what?

Do you have confirmation?

Yes.

It means we have to make sure he gets help.

And that someone else will lead the party.

Hello.

There is a breach in the government.

- Yes, I heard. - Yes.

You were always supposed to be part of it.

Sorry, I should have known better than to think

- that I could reform an old dog. - No problem.

Forgotten.

Shouldn't you just take over the ministry?

No, I don't think so. I like being Speaker.

Grimur. Come on.

It will be good for you.

I have to go to a meeting.

Thanks for the offer.

But not now.

No problem. Thank you for helping me.

Bye.

What was that?

He offered me your ministry.

And what?

I don't know if I should support this government.

Isn't it beautiful?

The lava pillars.

The moss, the colors.

And us speeding through it.

It would have been nice to catch the plane.

Oh, Steinunn. In a metal box.

Instead we can do this.

Benedikt, roll up the window!

"Where high hills fill half the valley."

Can you see any high hills here?

Do you think the poet got confused?

There are the lava pillars.

"Love star over a lava pillar."

I understand the poet completely.

Mmm.

Benedikt.

Do you understand him?

Relax.

- I'm relaxed. What? - Benedikt, these...

- Benedikt... - Are you stopping?

So...

This...

This incident in the UK. Can you just

tell me about it?

What?

Your mental breakdown.

You always said you studied too much.

Yes.

Yes?

Thorgeir said you lost all contact with reality.

I think we would call it a nervous breakdown today.

Nervous breakdown?

Yes.

I didn't know anyone there.

I just read books for months.

Finally, something just broke.

In what way?

I don't know.

I had cried for three days when they took me to the hospital.

I couldn't stop.

Did you tell your father?

My father?

Was she with you abroad?

Who?

Salome.

No.

She had just left when it happened.

And you've missed her ever since?

You know...

Since I met you,

I haven't missed anything.

"I'm the light of the world.

"The one who follows me

"will not walk in darkness."

This is the verse that describes Jesus.

And this is the only verse

I think of,

when I think of Eva.

Because Eva was light.

She called every member of Althing

on behalf of the birds.

That was how she was.

Unstoppable.

The biggest light in her life

was little Benedikt.

The memory of Eva lives in him.

How far that little candle throws its beams!

So shines a good deed in a wicked world.