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Oct-Dec 2010 Screenings
Noi Albinoi
2003 - Dagur Kari - 93 - Iceland / Germany / UK / Denma
Fri 24 Sep 2004 at 8.30pm
Astor Cinema, Scariff
Midnight Court Rating: 5.0 (3 votes)
Storyline: From the country that brought you the blackly comic 101 Reykjavic comes an equally humorous tragi-comedy. High school offers no challenges whatsoever to the gifted Nói except mockery of his teachers for his own enjoyment. He spends his days stealing beer and cigarettes to numb the boredom of life in the minuscule, snowbound village he has grown up in. Although not an albino, as the title suggests, Nói is hairless, pale and awkward. He is under constant suspicion (with some cause) by the local constable and suffers the domestic burden of a dotty grandmother and terminally alcoholic father. The arrival of a lovely new petrol station attendant, Iris, gives direction and purpose to the mischievous Nói. Dreams of a Polynesian escape with Iris take him off on a number of small but surreal adventures. The humour of the film winds down from side-splitting to the plain hilarious before a final, almost apocalyptic, climax that sideswipes the audience. However rather than come as a clumsy shift in tone, the finale somehow fits perfectly with the atmosphere created throughout the film.
Dagur Kari studied directing at the Danish Film School. His graduation film, a short entitled Lost Weekend (99), was screened around the world and won fourteen prizes. His other short films include The Violin Maker (97), Old Spice (99) and Professional Darkness (00). He co-directed the feature film Dramarama (01) and makes his solo directorial debut with Nói albinói (03).
“A funny but slightly scary comedy-drama” - Time Out
'Icelandic cinema digs out a major new talent ... an inspired mix of realism, humour and metaphor.' - Variety
'Arthouse lyricism, Kaurimaki-style black humour and youthful romanticism. Marks the debut of a major talent' - Screen International
“Existential and darkly comic...an impressive and unique debut.” - Dazed & Confused
Winner - Tiger Award, Moviezone Prize, Jury Grand Prix / International Film Festival Rotterdam
Winner - Nordic Prize, FIPRESCI Prize & Ecumenical Prize / Gothenburg Festival
Winner - Kudo Award (Best Musical Score) / Angers Festival of First Films
Winner- Grand Jury Prize / Angers Festival of First Films
Winner - Best Film / Icelandic Film Awards
Winner - Guarndian New Directors Special Commendation / Edinburgh Film Festival
Verdicts from the Midnight Court