Original subtitles

We're proposing a bill tomorrow.

What kind of changes are we talking about?

That those who suffer from serious mental illnesses

are prohibited from being a minister.

Are you insane?

How important is this trip?

Some meetings are less about discussing economics

and more about networking.

But don't we have ambassadors whose job it is to make these connections?

It's what diplomacy is all about.

...that there are no protocols in place for what to do

if a minister, becomes seriously mentally ill

while in office.

A gay rights activist gets assaulted and nobody seems to care.

They're always looking over my shoulder.

Every day, they encourage me to say that you're getting sick.

I assaulted him.

Did you attack someone because he was gay? -Yes, no!

First I kissed him. Then I beat him up.

I think we need to face the fact that

Benedikt won't be the leader of this party for much longer.

It isn't over until it's over.

People with mental health issues

often find that the doors to society are tightly locked.

This nation has elected a man who suffers from a mental disorder.

In my opinion, the newly passed bill is a political attack on him.

Therefore, I have decided that the newly passed bill,

which prevents mentally ill individuals

from serving in government,

will be put to a national referendum.

Honourable speaker.

Let's just call this what it is.

This is a filibuster.

Some matters need to be talked about at great lengths.

Like when you felt wool so that it can be used

to knit sweaters and mittens.

This budget proposal is not fit for purpose,

because in it, mental health is but an afterthought.

And I won't let that happen.

Which is why I think it's important

to examine the history of mental health matters in Iceland,

which begins with the so-called Ingjalds Idiot,

who was tied to a post.

By implementing these changes, we are anticipating

a combined income of 955 billion,

while expenses are..

What about the mental health services?

You've cut all increases to the mental health services budget.

Minister for Foreign Affairs. As I've just pointed out,

we've anticipated reduced government investment

spending across the board, which is the basis

for improving the economic well-being of households...

That's all clear. But the decision had been made.

That funding was for building a new psychiatric ward,

And new strategy for mental health nurse training,

and initiating staff expansion and bed augmentation,

and this was just the first step.

Yes, Minister for Foreign Affairs, but the Treasury is running a deficit

and we need to face reality.

Reality? What?

Are you saying that I'm out of touch with reality?

No. The committee also criticised your plan.

What?

Is that true?

Yes, so...

Minister for Foreign Affairs.

There was a dispute concerning the high amount of

additional funding allocated to mental health services,

that doesn't make a profit.

Minister of Health, we need to start somewhere.

Yes, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

We reached an agreement to do it this way. -Minister of Health.

We’ve promised to build that psychiatric ward. -Yes.

Making promises can be a dangerous thing.

We ran a poll and these are the results.

Isn't an absolute majority needed to win a national referendum? -No.

This is enough for the bill to become law.

How do we turn this around?

Benedikt.

We're not turning anything around.

This is for the nation to decide.

If they don't want mentally ill people in office, so be it.

So, you believe the people know what they want?

Yes, I believe so.

I just need to do my job.

We're five days away from a vote that could see you forced out of office.

Then I've got five days to do my job.

To convince them not to starve the mental health services.

The papers picked it up.

"Retracts promise on mental health funding boost."

How did this make the news?

The comments from the committee haven't been made public.

We're not the only ones trying to influence this vote.

If you don't mind, I have business with my minister.

You have a meeting with a fishing tycoon from Olafsvik

and the ambassador for India is here.

Theodore? - Yes.

Is he never actually in India?

No.

Hello.

Hi. I've been thinking this through.

I know how we'll solve it.

Solve what? -The lamb meat dilemma, how we can sell it to India.

Really? - Yes. So.

We need seven hundred million to get this done.

Seven hundred million? - Yes.

Seven hundred more? - Yes.

It's simple.

The other day, if we would have sold that meat,

it would have been worth two billion.

Hang on. For years, you've tried to sell lamb meat in India.

Yes. - With no success.

Not really.

And you want an additional seven hundred million to close the deal?

Precisely. Then it'll work.

How much does it cost to run this embassy?

Roughly.

Around one hundred million.

Per year? - Yes.

What if we just shut this embassy down?

Seriously. Then we could free up money for some proper causes.

What? -Yes.

What are you thinking?

What do you mean? - What happened?

Benedikt decided to shut down the embassy in India.

That saves a hundred million annually for the mental health services.

Can't you see how irresponsible this is?

The whole point of this embassy is to employ one man.

And he's never even there.

It's the twenty-first century.

If we need to speak with India, we just pick up the phone.

It's not that simple. - Hang on.

This is a good thing. - What?

This is a good thing.

I think we can win the national referendum.

We'll use Benedikt's sickness.

If there's one thing people can agree on,

it's that the health care system needs saving.

We'll let Benedikt face this head on.

If he announces this, people will think the illness has returned.

Exactly.

If closing a hundred million per year embassy means he's ill,

it shows that a sick man is just what we need to fix this system.

The minister won't be able to see you today.

Is that so? - Yes.

Look, I...

I'm not keen on using my mental illness as a weapon in this battle.

Maybe it's best if the national referendum passes.

Yes? The bill?

Okay.

Came up with an idea, I supported it and now you're annoyed.

Came up with an idea?

Pull it a bit.

I'm going to dad's for dinner, he says he's got an investment idea.

And you're actually considering it?

I'm not an idiot, Benedikt.

I'm trying my best with the hand I was dealt.

Do I need to come too?

No, you don't need to trouble yourself.

No...

I'll stay with Eva.

Dad probably wants to see her. - Which is more important?

That your dad gets to see her or that she gets to spend time with her dad?

Well? - What's going on with you?

Seriously. I'm doing everything I can to help you.

I've just sold my company.

Okay, let's not talk about our daughter.

Let's talk about work. - Okay, sure.

Okay, you want to talk about Eva?

She's almost one.

You spent the first six months of her life paralyzed with depression.

Since then, you're always at work and I've taken care of her on my own

and the last time you looked after her

you set the fucking house on fire!

I think it's time we all team up

and become a real family.

Sounds good.

We can all go to Tenerife, the whole family.

Me, you, Benedikt.

You know just as well as I do that Benedikt is on his way out.

Even if the national referendum doesn't take him down,

he's lost the party.

And Svanhvit will be elected chairwoman at the National Assembly.

Well, you know Benedikt. He's always got an ace up his sleeve.

You probably made a pretty penny when you sold your media outlet.

It must be a few billion.

Why don't you use that money to invest in our companies?

Was this your ploy?

To force me to sell so your conglomerate could absorb my money?

The acquisition of this media outlet had nothing to do with me.

Sure. - We're in a similar position.

You bet on the wrong horse. I bet on the wrong horse.

It's time that we stand together.

I'm old, I'll soon retire.

You bring the money.

I sign the entire Kvarann conglomerate over to you.

Then you'll take over.

Thanks for dinner.

Did you see that?

Well.

Let's play.

Resign.

What?

Why?

I can't be your assistant.

If what I did in the Faroe Islands gets out,

and the fact that you covered it up your career is over.

You're my doctor.

I need you. Let's play.

I've written my letter of resignation.

Let me ask you something.

I want an honest answer.

Are you resigning

because I'm finally getting decent at basketball?

Hey.

I know you're not stable.

I know what that's like.

We can't avoid responsibility.

I'm not avoiding responsibility.

I'm being responsible.

Okay, Porgeir.

I'm leaving politics.

I hate it.

It's like drowning in some damned quicksand.

But I will get this psychiatric ward done.

After that, I'll quit and so can you.

But you're a doctor and you know this system.

And I need your help.

You're still insufferable.

If what I did in the Faroe Islands gets out,

you can forget about all your plans.

I just need a little more time. Please.

It's overwhelming being constantly stuck between dad and Steinunn and...

Good morning.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs,

I have decided to close the Icelandic embassy in India.

This will save the Icelandic nation around one hundred million.

My suggestion to Parliament is that

this money should instead be used to fund mental health services.

In the budget proposal, these services are underfunded.

This money exists. We can find it.

I believe I've found the first one hundred million.

In four days, the Icelandic nation votes on a bill

regarding the mental health of government officials.

Presently, I am perfectly healthy.

But some believe that these laws will be used to push me out of office.

If that is the case,

then I intend to make the most of the time I have left.

I will work tirelessly to find more money for mental health services,

before I'm deposed.

Any other questions

No? Thank you all for coming.

What's this?

Are you resigning

What's the matter with you two?

What do you think people will say

if his assistant, his medically trained assistant, resigns?

Do you realise how that looks? - I'm not right for this job.

I know you're struggling with something right now.

But we are trying to keep Benedikt afloat,

so could you please just get over it?

Benedikt isn't even going to stay on.

He's going to quit. - Yes.

At some point.

No.

That went well.

What?

The least you can do is to stay on until then.

What's going on?

Steinunn found my letter of resignation.

She says I can't quit.

That explains why she's so mad. Do as I say.

Of all the countries in the OECD,

Iceland is the worst in which to experience a mental health problem.

That's a fact.

Mental health issues make up twenty-five percent

of all cases in the healthcare system,

yet only 4.6 percent of the healthcare budget is spent on this.

It is unforgivable not to fix this deficit in the next budget proposal.

Next on the list of speakers is the honourable Minister of Finance,

Svanhvit Richter.

Honourable speaker.

In this discussion, it is important to stick with what's real.

And the reality is...

I've called for a parliamentary party meeting.

I can't leave. If I do, the speakers list might run dry.

The opposition is due to speak, you can leave for three hours

and the discussion will still be ongoing.

If we intend to allocate additional funds to one matter,

it will inevitably impact others.

Where else are we supposed to make cuts?

You've entirely lost the support of the party.

Can't you see how few we are? They all fled.

They don't want to get caught in the crossfire.

And how are we supposed to pass this bill without our people?

This bill will not pass in its present form.

We should perhaps find a compromise.

I am not compromising.

When I drafted this bill,

I worked collaboratively with all the ministers, all of them,

except one,

and it's not even his fucking department.

I think this meeting is over. - No, Benedikt.

You need to understand that you aren't the only member of this party.

We need to present a united front.

1.8 billion for mental health services.

Magni. - Of which 26.6 million...

Come one, wait. - What?

This falls under your ministry. Join the fight.

I won't engage. I just won't.

Magni, wait.

Will you support me? - Support you?

Sure.

Benedikt is doing you a massive favour.

If he gets this through, you're the minister who gets the win.

I've made a deal with Svanhvit. - Hey.

The terms have changed. - The terms have changed?

Benedikt makes me look like an idiot

who has no control of his own department.

We'll just do it together.

Not if Benedikt acts like this.

Then it's impossible.

You go and try to sort your party out.

I need to go to a meeting.

Nice cane.

If you keep behaving like this, we won't stay in power for much longer.

You know that we

are constitutionally bound to follow our own conviction. -Yes.

But we are a party.

Are you taking your meds?

Members of Parliament are bound solely by their conviction.

Article forty-eight.

Will not break that rule just to fall in line.

Excuse me.

We need to be responsible

and support this vulnerable subject.

Benedikt.

Isn't it strange how you are fighting so hard on behalf of mental health?

Because I might need to this service?

Yes.

I think that makes me the right person to fix this service.

One in five Icelanders will use this system at some point in their lives.

It's a flawed system. I know it firsthand.

Don't you think I should use that experience?

Yes. - Exactly.

Hi.

Are you awake?

Hi, how are you?

My love.

Shouldn't you be asleep?

I know.

Should we get something to eat? Come here.

Come here, let's not wake up mom.

Should we sing

Close your eyes.

Let's see. That's it.

It's alright.

Yes, I know my love.

That's it.

What are you doing, Benedikt?

She needs to sleep.

I just put her to bed.

No. - Yes, I did.

Why aren't you asleep? - Because she woke up.

Did she wake you?

Yes.

But that's fine.

You need to get some sleep. - Being a parent means losing sleep.

Steinunn, I also need to take care of our girl.

Not at three in the morning.

We’ve discussed how important your routine is.

Steinunn.

There's nothing abnormal going on here.

Eva woke up and I sang to her.

We're in the middle of an election

that will determine your political future.

For a long time, I've felt as

if I'm not allowed to be alone with my child.

Why is that?

Am I too sick to be trusted with her? - You can't take care of her.

You don't give me a chance to look after her.

You have one role to play in all of this,

and that is simply to stay employed.

Okay?

I've made every sacrifice I can make. Yet you just live in your own world.

You don't show me the tiniest bit of consideration or respect.

Go to bed.

There, there.

We're all making sacrifices.

As you know, a new psychiatric ward has long been planned.

But now, reinforcements have arrived.

Steinunn.

Good morning.

As the wife of a man who struggles with a mental illness,

it came as a great shock when the Minister of Finance

walked back the decision to increase mental health funding.

This matter is close to my heart.

Which is why I've decided to donate one hundred million

towards the construction of a new psychiatric ward.

Steinunn.

Thank you, Aki.

Thank you.

You're good at this.

You think so?

Yes.

The minister will see you now. - Great.

Is he in there? - Yes.

We've been waiting for forty minutes.

Yes. -Hreggvidur has been trying to reach him for a week.

Because of what?

The Icelandic cod stock.

Are you sure you're in the right ministry?

The organisation is moving to Norway.

Benedikt has just been asked to do an interview on TV tonight.

Excuse us.

Are you kidding me?

Why don't you just write about this in your new paper?

We can try to find another time. - Great, thank you so much.

If we look at the causes of death

in the year 2000 of people aged eighteen or under,

we see that suicide accounted for 0.9%.

Twenty years later, this number has...

Will anyone back him up?

Nobody from the governing parties.

Not even you?

What do you think?

Will this go on all night?

I suppose so.

He needs routine.

And sleep. Otherwise...

You know..

I don't think I can take another episode.

I'll eavesdrop, see what I can find out.

We're in the midst of a pandemic and we must talk about it.

What do we do?

You wanted a sick man in your government.

This is what that looks like. -Are we sure he's having a manic episode?

He started a filibuster to oppose his own party's budget proposal.

Should we adjourn the proceedings?

Isn't it time to invoke Section seventy-one?

And end the debate?

That hasn't been done in fifty years.

It would cause an uproar.

If there was ever a time, it's now.

It is not reassuring if the Finance Minister can't back her own budget.

Fewer people die in car crashes than by their own hand.

Think of the National Assembly.

We need to see who's in charge, right?

We need to agree to do the same for the mental health system.

Benedikt, why has this decision been made at this time?

Because it's unnecessary.

We’ve got a well-paid ambassador in India who does our nation no good.

No good? - Yes.

Of course, the real issue is your governance.

You're rash and reckless.

That is the real issue.

Rash and reckless? - Yes.

Eggert, you are the Ambassador of Iceland to Norway. -Yes.

For how long would you like to do that?

What? -For how long would you like to do that?

Eggert, you don't even speak Norwegian.

Do I need to be able to do that? - Benedikt.

You are the one that hired him, or rather appointed him.

I didn't do that. Svanhvit did.

I think it's time we asked ourselves

where this rashness and recklessness stems from.

Me or these parasites?

Can you imagine having to listen to this? From your own boss?

I've spoken with all the other Icelandic ambassadors

and they all agree that we have reached our limit.

We can no longer work for this man.

What are you saying

Will you go on strike to object to the closing of a single embassy?

We might have to. -Look who's dismantling the foreign service now.

Sometimes drastic measures are needed to stop authoritarian politicians.

But wouldn't it actually be great?

What? - Look.

Embassies were invented in the fourteenth century. -Yes.

Then it was normal to have people on their payroll

running errands abroad.

Since then, we've invented the phone, the fax machine, the internet.

It is forbidden to close some embassies.

We are collaborators of the United Nations.

You just discussed closing them!

I was simply pointing out that...

But what if we only close the embassies that we are allowed to?

We can save around five billion per year and build a psychiatric ward.

This is a great idea, Eggert.

I'll make the announcement right now,

following Eggert's revelation. - No, Benedikt.

If the budget stays the same, I will start a filibuster.

That will cause other nations to close their embassies in Iceland.

And so what?

We'll just schedule an online meeting.

Because we live in the twenty-first century.

What about you, Eggert? In which century do you live?

Well.

We're out of time. Big ideas are forming.

Embassy closures and the Foreign Minister filibustering

his own government's budget proposal.

We'll see you again tomorrow, still in the twenty-first century.

Thank you for coming.

That was not what we decided to do.

We?

I know.

I need to be able to trust you.

I need to be able to trust you, Steinunn.

Trust is a two way street.

You donated a hundred million to mental health without consulting me.

I found five billion for mental health without consulting you.

That makes us even, right?

I've decided to cancel the national referendum

and withdraw the bill regarding

the mental health of government officials.

So, you've seen the poll?

What poll?

A poll was conducted after your interview.

Sixty-three percent of the nation planned to vote against the bill.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

What matters now is the government coalition.

I'll withdraw the bill.

In return, you'll end the filibuster.

Agreed.

Great.

Thanks for coming. Thanks for the coffee.

We won.

We won.

As I said in that interview,

it's hard to put your finger on what an ambassador's job actually is.

Which is why the biography of Gunnar Thoroddsen is so helpful.

In it, he describes a normal day in the life of an ambassador,

when he's not throwing expensive cocktail parties.

On those days, he worked three to four hours.

For two hours, Gunnar wrote a doctoral thesis.

After that, he played the piano for forty minutes.

Then he napped for an hour.

Lastly, he studied French for an hour.

Which is fine.

Except for the fact that Gunnar Thoroddsen

was an ambassador to Denmark

and the last time I checked,

French was not the official language of the Danes.

Can you get that?

That's Benedikt's psychiatrist.

Who? - Him.

It must be clear that I'm doing this on your behest.

What? - Come home, Benedikt.

You've made your point.

If you keep this up,

the whole nation will think you're having a manic episode.

All of you have recently asked me if I'm taking my medication.

And I am.

I am in good health.

Are we done?

We want Aki to conduct a psychiatric assessment.

The bill didn't pass.

There is nothing that says a sick man can't be a minister.

This might still make a difference.

Will you enforce laws that don't exist?

Are you taking your meds? - Yes.

Do you feel like you're having a manic episode?

No.

Do you have trouble sleeping

Well. It's three in the morning.

Do you struggle to concentrate? - No.

Has your impulsive behaviour had any negative consequences? -No.

Are you feeling confident? - Aki.

This isn't a manic episode.

What I'm doing here really matters, that's all.

Conviction is not the same as mania.

Are you overspending?

No.

Well.

I am about to spend five billion on your new psychiatric ward.

So?

I don't think this man is having a manic episode.

Sure, he is impulsive and tired,

but I would be too if I were him.

Now what? Is he just supposed to keep going?

I already gave you the Olanzapi

Do you think it's time to give it to him?

Not at all, he would crash.

He'd end up in the empty set. - The empty set?

Yes, it's maths jargon.

The empty set, the set which has no elements.

I can't become the empty set right now.

I'm a bit too busy for that.

Maybe you should do it after the debate, just in case.

You must assess the situation, it's up to you.

Okay, I'll walk you out.

Thanks for coming. - Thanks.

Hi, I'm Ragna from RUV.

Quick question, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?

This is Aki,

my psychiatrist, and he was here to conduct a psychiatric evaluation.

And I did pretty well, right?

What's your opinion, is Benedikt sick?

Look.

This kind of evaluation isn't infallible. But...

But nothing indicates that this man is having a manic episode.

Exactly.

Thanks for staying up with me.

The Minister of Finance says that there is no money to be had

but I say to you,

I could run the foreign service entirely online

for just a tenth of the current cost.

I just need permission from the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Hi.

You're up?

Yes, it's alright.

Look.

My love.

Hello, my dear.

Look at that.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Steinunn?

Why don't you just head home?

We here have a responsibility, we must face reality.

The proclaimed reality here is merely misconceptions.

Last night, a specialist declared

that the honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs is in perfect health.

This same specialist is the head of the psychiatric ward.

His institution stands to gain billions

if the minister gets his way.

This is a clear conflict of interest.

Therefore, we cannot trust his assessment.

There it is.

That sentence will be her downfall.

We can't trust specialists.

She's the one who's out of touch with reality.

Keep that in mind when you vote on the matter.

The next speaker is the honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Benedikt Rikhardsson.

Honourable speaker.

So...

Iceland is not the biggest country in the world.

Our foreign service doesn't need to match what larger nations offer,

we don't need to spend billions on buildings around the world

to house retired politicians on a fat salary.

What we do need is mental health.

Dear members of Parliament.

The debate has now gone on for thirty-eight hours.

The parliamentary committees have asked for a break to confer.

We will take a thirty minute break.

I suggest we support the Foreign Affairs Minister's proposal,

to shut down all embassies

that aren't in international organization committees.

I will be making a list of how the votes fall.

You can all feel the pressure from society.

So tread carefully.

The Foreign Affairs Committee has authorised

the honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs

to shut down twenty-two embassies.

This is an experiment and will last one year.

It is plain to see that the budget proposal drafted by

the honourable Minister of Finance is inadequate.

And on top of that,

she suggested that we no longer put our trust in specialists.

My question is, who here is actually trumpeting misconceptions?

Let's vote on the honourable Foreign Affairs Minister's proposal.

I hope the honourable Minister of Finance learns something from this,

that she should listen to her fellow party members, the opposition,

or her chairman at the very least,

when working on such important matters.

You're going to shut down the foreign service?

Wasn't that what you were fighting for?

One embassy, not the entire fucking foreign service.

What about issuing passports or consular assistance?

Don't you get it?

If Benedikt beats Svanhvit, that's huge.

We can't back down now, we have to see this through.

Then Benedikt can take some time off.

He can go and do something else.

And we take over...

Can I be honest with you?

He can't see you.

Benedikt Rikhardsson's proposed amendment

was passed in Parliament today.

Thirty-seven voted for the amendment and twenty-six voted against it.

This could impact the Finance Minister's position.

I've been trying to reach this man for a whole week.

He's been busy.

This is the fucking Minister for Foreign Affairs.

And this is the cod stock.

Our biggest natural resource.

I'll talk to him.

No.

I'm going to sail.

You'll act as if you have no idea.

And if the Norwegians want a fight,

Benedikt can fall on that sword. This is his responsibility.

But he's sick.

You couldn't ask for a better scapegoat.

I can't take these pills.

The budget proposal is on its way to the second reading

and I'm completely reinventing the foreign service.

I can't just stand by and watch as you have another manic episode.

I've just had a psychiatric assessment.

I just need some rest, then I'm good.

Why don't you ever listen to my opinion?

Someone has to fight for people like Kari.

All those broken and exhausted people,

dying just because mental health issues aren't sexy enough.

If you take this medication,

it'll balance you out for the National Assembly.

Then we can move forward.

It seems that nobody cares enough to fight for this but me.

Nobody but you?

For months, we've all fought alongside you.

But now it's over.

I'm taking my meds.

I'm not sick.

I'm tired but I'm not sick. You must see that.

If you're not sick, then I don't know what's going on.

I know you're taking your meds but they're clearly not working.

Me, you and Aki all agreed that you need to listen to me.

You're headed for another manic episode

and you must take this medication.

I can't.

Do you remember how I became?

When I took this medication?

I will not turn myself into some medicated spectre

to prevent someone else from taking my chair at the National Assembly.

Benedikt.

I'm only thinking of you.

And us.

Us.

Can you do this for us?

No.

Benedikt.