In our review of Hlynur Pálmason’s “Godland,” an acclaimed drama that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year, we described the film as a “hypnotic, spiritual, slow-cinema look at 19th century Iceland.” By all accounts, the film was a mix of the spartan, quiet explorers featured in the films of Werner Herzog, which meets the spiritual aspects of Martin Scorsese’s stark and spare religious drama, “Silence.” We dug “Godland” so much that we put it on our list of The 25 Best Films Of 2023 We’ve Already Seen, aka 2022 festival movies we already reviewed that are coming out this year.
Pálmason is known for the films “A White, White Day,” and “Winter Brothers” and “Godland” stars Elliott Crosset Hove, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Vic Carmen Sonne, Jacob Hauberg Lohmann, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Waage Sandø, and Hilmar Guðjónsso.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In the late 19th century, a young Danish priest travels to a remote part of Iceland to build a church and photograph its people. But the deeper he goes into the unforgiving landscape, the more he strays from his purpose, the mission, and morality. WRITER & DIRECTOR: Hlynur Pálmason (A White, White Day; Winter Brothers) STARRING: Elliott Crosset Hove, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Vic Carmen Sonne, Jacob Hauberg Lohmann, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Waage Sandø, Hilmar Guðjónsson PRODUCERS: Katrin Pors, Anton Máni Svansson, Eva Jakobson, Mikkel Jersin DISTRIBUTOR: Janus Films
READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2023 We’ve Already Seen
“Godland” opens In New York on February 3 and in Los Angeles on February 10, with a national rollout to follow via Janus Films. It’s been described as a transfixing and mesmerizing film, so check out the new trailer below and see if it gives you all the majestic feels.