SCREAMING MASTERPIECE
Synopsis:
Icelandic music hit the international scene with Björk and the Sugarcubes. In the last decade, several bands and solo acts have followed suit. Sigur Rós, Múm, Bang Gang, Mugison, Minus and Slowblow are a few of the more recent names and there are even more unpronouncable ones to look forward to in the coming years. "It's different," is most people's first reaction on hearing this diverse but highly original music. "Where is all this coming from?"
At the edge of the inhabitable world, high in the North-Atlantic, the Icelanders have whiled away the long, dark centuries patiently honing their caustic humor, their eccentric melodies and ancient poetry. The old music, handed down from medieval times, is one of the secrets to the Icelanders' unique sound - the howl of the arctic storm and the surf breaking on the rocky coast may be another.
Whatever the explanation, the Icelanders have forstered a music scene with a sound and attitude that is all their own, mixing ancient dirges and contemporary electronics, rock, pop and classical influences, to produce their own eclectic style. This film delivers the full force of the explosive Icelandic music scene with massive 5.1 Dolby sound and a fast-paced visual extravaganca that will leave you breathless. We follow the acts from their home in Iceland as they tour the world, from New York to Tokyo and beyond. The film was two years in the making and takes the audience behind the scenes of Reyjavik's irrepressible musical underground. The creeping glaciers, barren highland sands and dark raging seas full of ghosts form a backdrop to the raw energy of the music.
First release: Feb 2005
Date of theatrical release in Iceland: May 2005
original title: GARGANDI SNILLD
english title: SCREAMING MASTERPIECE
written & directed: ARI ALEXANDER ERGIS MAGNÚSSON
producer: SIGURJÓN SIGHVATSSON
assistant director: ÞÓR ELDON
production company: PALOMAR PICTURES, ERGIS FILMPRODUCTION
ZIK ZAK FILMWORKS
executive producers: ARI ALEXANDER ERGIS MAGNÚSSON, THOR S. SIGURJÓNSSON, SKÚLI FR. MALMQUIST
Co-producers: JÓHANNA GUDRÚN GUNNARSDÓTTIR, MOGENS GLAD,
ÁRMANN GUÐMUNDSSON, POUL ERIK LINDEBORG, SAN FU MALTHA
line-producer: HLÍN JÓHANNESDÓTTIR
co-production companies: A-FILM Holland, ANGEL FILMS Denmark
script consultants: ÞÓR ELDON, JÓN PROPPÉ
director of photography: BERGSTEINN BJÖRGÚLFSSON
editor: JÓN YNGVI GYLFASON
sound: KJARTAN KJARTANSSON
supported by: EURIMAGES, NORDIC FILM- & TV FUND, ICELANDIC FILM CENTRE
in association with NRK & NORTHERN LIGHTS
running time: 87 MINUTES
shooting format: 35MM, 16MM, DVCAM
screening format: 35MM
colour/bw: COLOUR
fiilm gauge: 1:1.85
screen ratio: 16:9
sound: DOLBY DIGITAL
original language: ENGLISH/ICELANDIC
subtitled version: ENGLISH/ICELANDIC by Gunnar Þorri Pétursson, Jón Proppé
film genre: MUSIC FILM
production year: 2005
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES/BONUS MATERIAL / 160 min.
all interviews done by ARI ALEXANDER ERGIS MAGNÚSSON
director of photography: BERGSTEINN BJÖRGÚLFSSON
editor: EINAR BALDVIN ARASON, MATTHÍAS KRISTJÁNSSON
booklet text: JÓN PROPPÉ
english translation: JÓN PROPPÉ
dvd authoring co-ordinator: BJARKI GUNNARSSON
dvd authoring: ARNAR ÍVARSSON
graphic design: DAÐI HALL
subtitling: AÐALBJÖRN TRYGGVASON
hompage designed by SIGURÐUR G. SIGURÐSSON & MAGNEA J. MATTHÍASDÓTTIR
original poster design: JÓN MAGNÚSSON
World sales:
Katapult Film Sales, 2218 main street, 2nd floor , Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA
Tel+1 310 399-2080 Fax+1 310 399-2199
thomas@katapultfilms.com
david@katapultfilms.com