The horizons of Iceland’s isolated Westfjords, shot in airy widescreen and crisp black and white, seem boundless. Not that you would know it from the life of Jón (Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson). Dour and middle-aged, he lives with his elderly, hectoring mother (Kristbjörg Kjeld) and a dog called Bresnef, days away from the nearest neighbours. But when his mother dies, Jón must fulfil her last wish and drive her corpse across the country. Away from the prison of his home, he starts to question his life. And Mama has plenty to say on the matter (death hasn’t made her any less argumentative). This droll road movie uses the wild landscape to powerful effect, and features the best Icelandic canine acting since Godland.
