Small Mountain

It is Election Day in a quiet seaside village and Emil, a local handyman, is entrusted to take the sealed ballot box to the local airport to be flown to the city for counting. As he starts his journey Emil finds himself resolving a dispute between two young boys over a bicycle and a sister´s promise to sing a song. Unbeknownst to Emil, his son Albert, a broody young man, has returned to the village for a confrontation about their fractured relationship. He wants answers as to why he grew up motherless.

At the small airport the winds pick up and the pilots have no choice but to leave without their valuable cargo. As Emil arrives at the airport, the plane is a distant speck on the horizon. Undeterred, Emil heads for the mountain, planning to reach another airport on the other side. Albert’s sudden appearance has got local going, many remember the rumors about his mother and Emil. Loose talk travels and the villagers, preparing for a party that night, exchange gossip on the newcomer.

On his drive over the Mountain, Emil is waylaid once again as he passes Dengsi, an old farmer and friend, who flag him down asking for help to mend his scarecrow. Never one to refuse, Emil restores the scarecrow´s head to its rightful place, as he does so, Dengsi urges Emil to resolve his long standing issues with his son.

Emil continues his journey across the mountain only to come to a crashing halt as a lamb runs in front of his car. Emil swerves but hits a rock on the side of the road. Seeing he is now stuck on the mountain side with the ballot box in his trunk, he calls Stebbi for help. Stebbi soon arrives in his red-ish wagon with his girlfriend and Albert. Emil and Albert meet on the mountain. Stebbi returns to the village. Father and son are left alone. Nothing stands between them except the ballot box.

Crew

Directed by

Einar Þór Gunnlaugsson
Screenplay

Einar Þór Gunnlaugsson
Director of Photography

Sigurður Sverrir Pálsson
Editor

Einar Þór Gunnlaugsson, Sigurbjörg Jónsdóttir
Music Composer

Danny Chang
Producer

Einar Þór Gunnlaugsson, Danny Chang
Co-Producer

Snorri Þórisson
Advisor

Valdís Óskarsdóttir
Assistant Director

Sindri Páll Kjartansson, Erik Hirt
Assistant Editor

Garðar Finnsson
Camera Assistant

Hákon Sverrisson
Color Grader

Anders Bloch-Jensen
Costume Design

Maria Valles, Kristín Gunnarsdóttir
Gaffer

Ásgrímur Guðbjartsson, Ævar Páll Sigurðsson
Key Grip

Arnar Einarsson, Ari Steinn Hjaltested
Line Producer

Friðrik Elís Ásmundsson
Make-Up

Marta Dröfn Björnsdóttir, Erla Ásmundsdóttir, Steinunn Þórðardóttir
Music Performers

Colin Edwards
Post-production Assistant

Gitte Wahl, Hreinn Beck
Post-production Sound Assistant

Jeremy Child
Production Assistant

Gunnar Kvaran, Arnþrúður Dögg Sigurðardóttir
Production Coordinator

Ragnar P. Pétursson
Production Designer

Ólafur Jónasson
Re-recording Mixer

Darren Clement
Script Supervisor

Rannveig Magnúsdóttir
Set Decoration

Einar Már Eiðsson
Sound Editor

Paul Mcfadden
Sound Engineer

Kjartan Kjartansson, Jón Kjartansson, Bogi Reynisson, Viðar Hákon Gíslason
Special Effects

John Fewell, Will Everett, Arnar Steinn Friðbjarnarson
Stunts

Valdimar Jóhannsson
Titles

Halldór Bragason

About the film

Type

Feature Film
National Premiere Date

March 12, 2008
Genre

Comedy, Drama
Length

97 min.
Language

Icelandic
Original Title

Heiðin
International Title

Small Mountain
Production Year

2008
Production Countries

Iceland
IMDB

Small Mountain
Website

www.passportpictures.is/
Icelandic Film Centre Grant

Yes
Production Format

35mm
Aspect Ratio

1.85:1
Color

Yes
Sound

Dolby
Screening format and subtitles

35mm film with English sub. Betacam SP with English sub. -