Águst Guðmundsson directed this Icelandic period drama, adapted from the short story We Must Dance by William Heinesen, and set on an island in 1913. Pétur (Gunnar Helgason) narrates, recalling the days when mainlanders arrived for a wedding. Flirtatious Sirsa (Pálína Jónsdottir) marries Harald (Dofri Hermannsson), son of a wealthy landowner on the island. Offshore, a ship is sinking, so the men form a rescue party, returning with the captain, the engineer, and several sailors. With a storm gathering, the engineer dies. The clergyman requests an end to the festivities as a mark of respect. Sirsa protests, but her new husband brings the celebration to a halt. The group then fragments into different activities, drunken or otherwise, and the sensual Sirsa directs her attention toward the handsome Ívar (Baldur Trausti Hreinsson). The film's score features traditional folk music.
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Cast
14 people
Gunnar Helgason
Pétur
Known for
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Bokeh
Joi Johannsson
Vítus
Known for
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
His Dark Materials
Benedikt Erlingsson
Hólófernes
Known for
The Boss of It All
Touch
Baldur Trausti Hreinsson
Ívar
Also in
Hildur
A Man Like Me
Magnús Ólafsson
Sýslumaður
Known for
Metalhead
Gísli Halldórsson
Nikulás
Also in
Children of Nature
Cold Fever
Pálína Jónsdóttir
Sirsa
Also in
Wildside
In His Life: The John Lennon Story
Dofri Hermannsson
Haraldur
Also in
No Trace
Cruelty
Arnar Jónsson
Djákni
Known for
Bokeh
Virgin Mountain
Þórunn Magnea Magnúsdóttir
Móðir Haraldar
Known for
Jar City
Björk Jakobsdóttir
Theodóra
Also in
Movie Days
Plan B
Guðrún Þ. Stephensen
Sjómannsekkja
Also in
Story of a Murder
Benjamin, the Dove
Ágúst Guðmundsson Director · Kristín Atladóttir Writer William Heinesen Author
First release September 25, 1998 · Produced in Iceland, Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany · Production Oxford Films, Nordisk Film
Production
IsFilm
Production
Oxford Films
Production
Nordisk Film
Production
Hamburger Kino-Kompanie
Production
Iceland · Denmark · United Kingdom · Germany
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Dansinn
Original language
Icelandic
Spoken on screen
Icelandic
Release dates
Iceland · September 25, 1998
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
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