Who knew that a film about Icelandic sheep-rearing would turn out to be a must-see? We wouldn't have guessed it, but that's exactly the case with Soda Pictures and writer-director Grímur Hákonarson's latest release, Rams, which won the Un Certain Regardprize at Cannes last year.
Set in rural Iceland, the film follows two brothers who, despite living on neighbouring sheep farms, have not spoken to one another in forty years. Both are raising sheep from the same breed, and are opponents in the town's annual ram competition. When their flocks become infected with an untreatable virus, they are forced to cull their livestock, potentially bringing an irreversible end to their prize-winning pedigree.
A sedately-paced yet quietly charming film, Ramstackles the nature of family feuds, the difficulties that face rural communities, and the endurance of will even in the toughest climes. The film has a particularly dry humour to it, especially when portraying the brothers' petty interactions - other than the sheep, their only company is that of a dog, which they occasionally use to deliver messages between one another. At the same time, the film doesn't shy away from harsh realities: the community is dependent on the livestock for their livelihoods, and the drastic measures taken to drive out the disease from the flocks brings the affected farms to their knees. Rams tackles an unusual topic but with slow-burning fervour.
"We love independent films and this marvel of a deadpan comedy is about two brothers on a mission to save their sheep!"
RAMS IS IN CINEMAS AND & DEMAND NOW