Under the Tree (2017)

Under the Tree: Directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson. With Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Þorsteinn Bachmann. When Baldwin and Inga’s next door neighbours complain that a tree in their backyard casts a shadow over their sundeck, what starts off as a typical spat between neighbours in the suburbs unexpectedly and violently spirals out of control.

“Wow! This really is quite something. A dark, tense Icelandic dramatic thriller with a dry comic streak. After an argument with Agnes (Edda Björgvindóttir), Alti (Steinpór Hróar Steinpórsson) is kicked out of their flat. Heu0026#39;s caught watching an old sex-tape of an ex and finds the locks changed. So he goes to stay with his parents who are in the midst of a squabble with their neighbours over a tree thatu0026#39;s casting too much shade. Youu0026#39;d think the troubled marriage would be the more serious plot point, but youu0026#39;d be wrong. It uses its humour to great effect, twisting the narrative wonderfully. In fact it feels very close to dry British humour. Thereu0026#39;s an honesty to it and although itu0026#39;s undoubtably Scandinavian, the muted colour palette gives it that dark gritty British tone. The two plots escalate rapidly with a custody battle, slashed tyres, missing pets, a missing brother, security cameras, suggestive gnomes, chainsaws, it gets brutal… really really brutal. Uncomfortably brutal and although itu0026#39;s quite stark and simple, it takes the viewer to some really unexpected places. Be nice. Talk it out. Otherwise you might regret it.”