ICELAND: Beowulf & Grendel. 2005

Director: Sturla Gunnarsson
Stars: Bryjar Ágústsson, Steindór Andersen, Helgi Björnsson, Gerard Butler, Benedikt Clausen, Tony Curran.
Release date: Sweden - Jan 2006
Length: 103 mins
Yeaaaahhhh! There aren't enough films made about Viking times & this one is long overdue. It's a massive undertaking that cost the Icelandic/Canadian/UK co-production $US14.5 million. Even though it comes from an Anglo-Saxon background via a Christian Monk who finally recorded it into print, it's an historical poem from between 8AD & 10AD that told of a a Germanic tribe member from the south of Sweden travelling to Denmark to defeat a monster. Even though it was a fictional tale, it incorporated true historical events & still proves to be one of the best of it's kind. It must be stated that there seems to be constant debate over it's origins, dates, players & well basically everything surrounding it's existence. If you don't agree then just check out the longest message board debate I've ever seen on IMDb. Click here.
If we don't get this at the Sydney Film Festival I'm going to think they are seriously prejudiced or just ignorant. It has everything you want in a medieval adventure & it'd be a refreshing change than the usual po-faced films that they show. Here's me a regular attendee who saw 35 films there last year. Ha ha. I love it, I just wish for more diversity in genres to be shown in future.

I wish it wasn't an English language film. I wish it was at least a realistic mish mash of languages. Takes away from the effectiveness for me when the American audience influences this angle. Too wussy to read subtitles. Deary me. I just like films to be as authentic as they possibly can. And forget Lambert's science fiction version from 1999 & totally avoid Robert Zemecki's animated romp that is due the year after. And why isn't this film like 2 1/2 hrs long. 103 mins seems inadequate for such an epic sounding flick.

The purple & black poster that is online makes it look like a cheap straihght to video flick. Hope they piss that one off soon.



Synopsis
Adapted from the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, BEOWULF & GRENDEL is a medieval adventure that tells the blood-soaked tale of a Norse warrior's battle against the great and murderous troll, Grendel. Heads will roll in this provocative take on the first major work of English literature. Out of allegiance to the King Hrothgar, the much respected Lord of the Danes, Beowulf leads a troop of warriors across the sea to rid a village of the marauding monster. The monster, Grendel, is not a creature of mythic powers, but one of flesh and blood - immense flesh and raging blood, driven by a vengeance from being wronged, while Beowulf, a victorious soldier in his own right, has become increasingly troubled by the hero-myth rising up around his exploits. Beowulf's willingness to kill on behalf of Hrothgar wavers when it becomes clear that the King is more responsible for the troll's rampages than was first apparent. As a soldier, Beowulf is unaccustomed to hesitating. His relationship with the mesmerizing witch, Selma, creates deeper confusion. Swinging his sword at a great, stinking beast is no longer such a simple act. The story is set in barbarous Northern Europe where the reign of the many-gods is giving way to one - the southern invader, Christ. Beowulf is a man caught between sides in this great shift, his simple code transforming and falling apart before his eyes. Building toward an inevitable and terrible battle, this is a tale where vengeance, loyalty and mercy powerfully entwine. A story of blood and beer and sweat, BEOWULF & GRENDEL strips away the mask of the hero-myth, leaving a raw and tangled tale that rings true through the centuries.

• Website
• Varmouries Makers of medieval armoury for films.
• Monsters & Critics Loads of images here.