Grimsey (2018) User Reviews

Cold as Ice(land)

[chong_an · 5/10 · 26 May 2018]

After their breakup, Norberto runs off to Iceland, and begins to ghost Bruno. With the help of Reykjavik police, and with fellow Spaniard Arnau in tow, Bruno chases Norberto all the way north to the Arctic Circle island of Grimsey. Along the way, voice-mail messages Bruno tries to leave gives a view of Bruno's grieving process.

While Arnau has been tagged with the occupation of tour guide, this film shows Iceland as a colorless, cold climate - like Norberto's heart, receding into the past, as noted by one song Bruno sings along to.

This is a downer of a movie, and I wonder if it could have been made if the couple were not same-sex. Throw in a sexual dynamic, and it would be even creepier - which means that a same-sex couple is burdened with an unhappy story.

Ice Road Trip Movie the plods a path of drear

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 4/10 · 27 November 2018]

The plot of this Icelandic set Spanish drama comedy (yes its got comedy on it) is simple. Norberto has left Bruno and gone to Iceland, for some alternative climate conditions - one can only guess. Anyway Bruno does the Bunny boiler thing and sets out to track him down (should have used Grinder).

Once there he gets help from fellow Spaniard Arnau and after some questionable choices in knitwear purchases off they go. They end up in the Arctic Circle on an island called Grimsey - I thought this might be a reference to a lesser known Grime star - sadly not.

Now that is it - nowt really happens except we get the back story via various telephone messages where we see a relationship going through the slow death throes that we are all familiar with. Now this type of plot can be done really well or it can be done as it is here. I was non plussed at best and bored, disinterested and slightly annoyed at worst. Nothing to recommend this at all - not even any bedroom action, shower action, beech action or in fact action. Do yourself a favour and avoid this like - well a really cold holiday in a tasteless jumper - oh and the music is awful too but it only lasts 70 minutes - a boredom filled 70 minutes that is. In Spanish and some Icelandic with sub titles to explain the futility of it all.

Huh!

[westsideschl · 2/10 · 7 August 2018]

I'm sorry, but this movie lost me. Maybe its meaning was hidden during my ff (but I did rewind ever so often for some hint) of the endless scenes of Icelandic building fronts and even more endless scenes of sitting in a car traveling on a road over basically just flat basaltic rock. All accompanied by loooonnnng stretches of silence. The acting and barren dialogue was commensurate to the landscape. The movie concluded by mentioning looking at the Northern Lights, but we're shown lights on the side of a building going on & off. Huh! This film felt more like an Icelandic promotional tourist film than the supposed broken heart tale.

Don't bother

[davestirling · 1/10 · 26 May 2018]

Saw this at the Insideout Film Festival.

It's 70 minutes of my life I won't get back. This could have been made into a 15-20 minute short film and it would have the same impact.

Don't waste your time like I did :(

The Grim of Grimsey

[kurtisjvandermolen · 1/10 · 27 January 2023]

We discover the grim details just before his arrival at Grimsey that the protagonist has caused all of his own problems, and at that, is cool and aloof toward an overtly caring tour guide. Then, when suddenly reaching a flimsy resolution on the matter from a single glance and assessment, the music turns upbeat and the exit song fuels another pathological break away. This is an exercise in the dark world that lies beneath guilt and shame, loneliness (aka healthy people staying away from toxic people), and an anticlimactic detective search, through beautiful scenery, for the lost man driving the car and leading this search.

Atmospheric

[popandfilms · 7/10 · 15 December 2018]

The movie takes its time but it is a 69mn movie so that's fine. The atmosphere is quiet unique with all the islandic landscapes. It's a very intimate portrait of a heartbroken man searching answers from his lover that suddenly disappeared. The plot is simple but all is in the atmosphere. All the melancholy of a loss and the need to reborn. Nicely executed and moving.

Cerebral, Atmospheric and great track to finish with

[mistermansfield · 7/10 · 24 February 2022]

Obviously this movie isn't for everyone, but I loved it. Not much happens in the way of action, but emotionally, you go on a journey with a man, Bruno, who is trying to find his lover, Norberto, in Iceland. It is more of a reflective, thoughtful piece; very true to life. Who wants to talk a lot when you are in this situation?

Once in Iceland, Bruno meets Arnau, who becomes a close friend as they traverse Iceland together, hot on the path of Norberto.

Arnau kind of falls for Bruno and he also knows how Bruno's journey is going to end. But like all great friends, he stays with Bruno through thick and thin.

Some people might be disappointed with the way it ends, but you have to think about it. When you realise something is over, it's over. And the best thing to do is leave with your dignity.

Besides, the very end of the film is more hopeful.

And then you get the great little dance track at the end.