''Falcons'' (Icelandic: ''Fálkar'' ()), is the seventh film directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson. This film, released in 2002, is mostly in English language.

Plot

It is the story of an ex-convict, Simon (

Keith Carradine Keith Ian Carradine ( ; born August 8, 1949) is an American actor who has had success on stage, film, and television. He is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's film ''Nashville'', Wild Bill Hickok in the HBO series '' Deadwood ...

), who after returning to Iceland where his mother was born, to visit relatives, looks for the loneliest place in the world to commit suicide. In a small village he meets Dúa (

Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir (born 10 March 1966) is an Icelandic actress from Reykjavík. Early life and education Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir ( born 10. Mars 1966) is an Icelandic actress, director, and producer. Mrs. Vilhjalmsdóttir is a well ...

), an Icelandic young lady, who is found to be an interesting, rather strange woman by Simon. Dúa has a caged falcon that she hopes to tame, but they get into trouble as it is illegal to possess this kind of animal in captivity. In the story, Simon is the embodiment of a jailed bird, one of the falcons and as she is an

air sign In Western astrology, astrological signs are the twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth's 360-degree orbit around the Sun. The signs enumerate from the first day of spring, known as the First Point of Aries, which is the vernal equinox. ...

, they join in a relationship ruled by Simon's belief that she is his illegitimate daughter. Surrounded by tension between them, Simon serves as a protective figure to Dúa, who keeps him from committing suicide. The couple escape to Hamburg, Germany, to start all over again. The protagonists' behaviours are opposite to each other: Simon is down to earth and finds himself awkward by Dúa's eccentric beliefs in astrology, who considers Simon as a typical Scorpio and thus avoids deepening into a more serious relationship, partly because of the feeling of his paternity. Dúa's falcon, that she nourished and protected when her uncle found it with a broken wing, has a high value to her, as she considers it last remnant of the beloved life in Iceland. The falcon travels with them on their escape and has a high monetary value. Later, as Dúa wasted their money, Simon tries to sell the falcon in order to cover their expenditure, but he is cheated by some crooked Germans and the falcon is stolen.

Cast

: Simon *

: Dúa *

Ingvar E. Sigurðsson Yngvar Harra (or Ingvar; Proto-Norse ''*Ingu-Hariz''; non, Yngvarr ; d. early 7th century) was the son of Östen and reclaimed the Swedish throne for the House of Yngling after the Swedes had rebelled against Sölvi. He is reported to have ...

: Jóhann * Magnús Ólafsson: Lobbi * Margrét Ólafsdóttir: Auntie * Friðrik Friðriksson: Young Policeman *

Axel Prahl Axel Prahl (born 26 March 1960 in Eutin) is a German actor and musician. Prahl, born in Eutin, grew up in nearby Neustadt in Holstein. After his A-levels, Prahl started studying music and mathematics, but then went on to acting school in Kiel. ...

: Car Rental Dealer * Marisa Calcagno: Sabine * Margrét Helga Jóhannsdóttir: Barmaid * Ramin Yazdani: Scarface * Geo von Krogh: Salvation Army Host * Hark Bohm: A Man of the World * Ragnheidur Steindórsdóttir: Nurse *

Guðmundur Ólafsson Guðmundur or Gudmundur is an Icelandic male first name, sometimes shortened to Gummi or Gvendur. The Icelandic surname Guðmundsson is a patronymic surname meaning ''son of Guðmundur''. Guðmundsdóttir is a patronymic surname meaning ''daught ...

: Doctor *

Pétur Ólafsson Pétur () or Petur is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Petur Alberg (1885–1940), Faroese violin player and songwriter from Tórshavn * Pétur Blöndal (1944–2015), Icelandic congressman in the Icelandic Independence Party ...

: Uncle Tóti *

Theódór Júlíusson Theódór Júlíusson (born 21 August 1949) is an Icelandic actor. He has appeared in more than twenty films since 1994. Theódór won the 2012 Edda Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance as Hannes in ''Volcano A volcano is a ruptur ...

: Bus Driver *

Randver Thorláksson Randvér or Randver was a legendary Danish king. In Nordic legends, according to '' Sögubrot'' and the '' Lay of Hyndla'', he was the son of Ráðbarðr the king of Garðaríki and Auðr the Deep-Minded, the daughter of the Danish-Swedish ru ...

: Customs Officer * Zack-Volker Michalowski: Antique Dealer * Jóhanna Vigdís Hjaltadóttir: TV Reporter I * Ómar Ragnarsson: TV Reporter II * Örlygur Kristfinnsson: Gallery Owner *

Darren Forman Darren is a masculine given name of uncertain etymological origins. Some theories state that it originated from an Anglicisation of the Irish first name Darragh or Dáire, meaning "Oak Tree". According to other sources, it is thought to come from ...

: American I * Glenn Robert Hodge: American II *

Rafi Guessous Rafi may refer to: Places * Rafi, Iran, a city in Khuzestan Province * Rafi, Abadan, a village in Khuzestan Province * Rafi, Nigeria, a Local Government Area of Niger State Other uses * Rafi (name), a name of Arabic origin * Rafi (political pa ...

: Doorman *

Bernd Gajkowski Bernd is a Low German short form of the given name Bernhard (English Bernard). List of persons with given name Bernd The following people share the name Bernd. *Bernd Brückler (born 1981), Austrian hockey player *Bernd Eichinger (1949–2011), ...

: Lübeck Bartender * Frank Wieczorek: Sad Looking Man *

Werner Karle Jung Werner may refer to: People * Werner (name), origin of the name and people with this name as surname and given name Fictional characters * Werner (comics), a German comic book character * Werner Von Croy, a fictional character in the ''Tomb Ra ...

: Shady Looking Man

Music

The soundtrack was released as a separate CD titled '' Fálkar''. The music composition was mainly by

Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (; born 23 April 1958), also known as HÖH, is a musician, an art director, and '' allsherjargoði'' (''chief goði'') of Ásatrúarfélagið ("the Ásatrú Association"). Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson was a pioneer in the use ...

and several important artists who set up a proper atmosphere to the film's plot.

References

External links

''Falcons'' at the Icelandic Film Corporation web site
* * {{Friðrik Þór Friðriksson 2002 films English-language Icelandic films 2000s Icelandic-language films Films directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson Films scored by Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Films set in Hamburg 2000s English-language films Films about astrology 2002 multilingual films Icelandic multilingual films