Sigur Ros isn’t the type of band that’s gonna get a party started in any sense, but they will help you do other such important things like, make a drive in the country more majestic. They will help you seal the deal with that certain someone and keep it going for a certain amount of time. And they can soundtrack your downtime, be it reading, napping, cleaning, cooking, etc. As people in general, well since they’re from Iceland, they speak slowly with a heavy accent and any project they put their mind to automatically makes you feel selfish, lazy and ugly. Glad their making a movie to help continue this.
Essentially in 2006 Sigur Ros figured they loved home so much, they’d take their setup and play a nice tour in Iceland and in fact make a movie about it so they could show the world how beautiful Iceland is compared to your neck of the woods. It sounds simple right? So simple that they brought in a director whose lone directing credit is the Disney animated Lilo & Stitch.
Its obvious to think that this would be an easy point and shoot kinda shot because Iceland has so much crazy shit to shoot. But after you watch the trailer you’ll see that while yes, there are some shots that you could shoot blindfolded, there are other more awkward shots that one might not think about, yet goes so well with what is at the root of this film.
If this isn’t enough for you fans or you like what you see, the upstarts that they are over at the SR camp have two other projects for us to devour. The first is almost a companion book to the film from Artist in Residence described as:
In a Frozen Sea: A Year with Sigur Ros, follows Sigur Ros through their native Iceland during the Takk world tour. Tracking over the Icelandic countryside, A+R captured exclusive photographs, interviews and unique insight into the band. The result of this endeavor; a thirty-two page publication of never before seen photographs, observations and quotes that captures the band in their words, in their world. Encased in a 12″ x 12″ jacket, In a Frozen Sea: A Year with Sigur Ros, is a collector’s item that no Sigur Ros fan will want to be without.
The second project is the worldwide release of a 2002 Icelandic film scored by SR, entitled Hlemmur directed by Olafur Sveinsson. As described:
Finally, ‘Hlemmur’ is getting a full release as a double-pack DVD/CD, via the band’s own Krunk label in Iceland. Properly packaged for the first time to include a lavish 32-page booklet of hand-drawings by the band, it comes in an initial run of 3,000 units only.
The film ‘Hlemmur’ follows the lives of the habitués of Reykjavik’s downtown bus station of the same name, most of whom are damaged by alcohol and substance abuse, or otherwise distinctly vulnerable sections of society. It is harrowing, sad and occasionally redemptive.
You can stream all 11 of those songs over at their Myspace page for those who’ve stuck around this far. I wasn’t fucking around when I said Sigur Ros could make your ass feel lazy. Catch the trailer and keep your ears out for the release date which should be coming soon.
Sigur Ros - Heima
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Quicktime 7 (iPod compatible: 44 MB)
Via HeimaFilm.com
The icelandic wikipedia marks the premiere on September the 27th in Reykjavík. So, get your ticket for the airplane….
For those of you who understand icelandic, here is the link: http://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigur_Rós_-_Heima
Well, the link isn’t working, `cause one letter (the o with the accent) is not accepted… just type „sigur ros heima“ into the search field. Good luck…
I just have to say that I´m simply outrageous that a credit for this film has been given to people that did only couple of days work on this film! I personally worked as an camera assistant on this film last summer for almost a month, touring all the concerts and filming them as well filming landscape in iceland and interviews as well. I seen that the icelandic cinemtographer has not been given a credit and also the icelandic director. I just want everybody to know that 90% of this film was not directed by Dean DeBlois but Steingrimur Karlsson and it was not shot by Alan Calzatti but by Magni Agustsson. I know that these persons came to iceland and shot some pickups but they were not responsible for 90% of this film. Shame on you!
Often films are produced by ‘lesser known names’ and tagged with a more ‘established name’. If you look at the movie “A Time to Kill”, Sandra Bullock was given top billing, yet only carried a supporting role. Its a ploy they use in films in order to draw the audience.
I look forward to seeing the movie “Hemia”, however, to be totally honest, I never would have known about the movie had it not been for the research I was doing on Dean Deblois.
the band said that dean saved the movie from being thrown into the bin. they said they were almost ready to scrap it before he came along. he also shot 80 hours of footage that was essential to make it as brilliant as it turned out to be. i’d say he has something to do with the movie
btw that’s not to say that the work done by the iceland crew wasn’t amazing. gorgeous photography all around.
i can safely say that dean deblois did have a considerable amount to do with the film and, following last night´s premiere, it was very clear that those in and connected to the band considered him (and the editor) to be the reason it has ended up as such a stunning film.
the best bits of live footage in the film are actually the bits filmed after the tour, and these were all done by dean too.
also, the band interviews featured in the film were all done by dean and they’re without doubt the most insightful, open and interesting interviews the band have ever done. they opened up to him in a way they’ve not done to anyone else.