Words on the film: Two brothers work as miners in a Danish mining village. When an outbreak of food poisoning occurs, the miners blame Emil’s illicit liquor, which soon leads to violence. And when his brother sees Anna who is the object of Emil’s desire, he feels betrayed.Winter Brothers, the debut film from Icelandic director Hlynur Palmason, is a story of uncomplicated people set against a backdrop of severe midwinter days and spectacular scenery. The miners’ dark and dangerous underground world both contrasts and sits in harmony with the stunning snowy landscapes. The main protagonist is the dull and strange Emil, who is the driving force of the film; his feral nature peaking as the brothers fight for their woman. The highlights of Winter Brothers are Elliott Grosset Hove’s inspired performance, which deservedly won him the Best Actor award at the Locarno Film Festival 2017, the incredible music continually infusing extra atmosphere throughout, and the remarkable mise-en-scène, which is quite outstanding for a first-time director. (RHEE Souewon)
