Set on a remote farm in Iceland, Gudmundur-Amar Gudmindsson’s Whale Valley is a dark, yet beautiful, portrayal of brotherly love. When seven-year-old Ivar discovers his older brother Amar attempting to hang himself, Amar makes him promise not to tell their parents. As the boys deal with their own emotional turmoil, their growing concern for each other’s mental state leads to a strengthening familial bond.
The cinematography manages to capture the grey and depressing landscape of the Icelandic valley in a surprisingly picturesque manner, while excellent performances from both actors, especially the younger Agust Öm B Wigum, carry the film’s dramatic tension and emotional culmination.
The short, a collaboration between Iceland and Denmark creatives, tenderly explores the young brothers’ discovery of death and depression, expressing the importance of communication in these situations. Consequently, despite the morbid themes, the film manages to remain an engaging, fulfilling and touching tale.
