Films A-Z
God Bless Iceland
Gu? Blessi Ísland
Helgi Felixson / Iceland, Germany, Sweden / 2009 / 100 min.
Icelanders had a very rude awakening in 2008. The global financial crisis affected the North Atlantic island more deeply than other states. Empty state coffers, debts and the actual bankruptcy of the country's finances prompted thousands of Icelanders to take to the streets and demand the resignation of Geir Haarde's government, whom they blamed for the situation. Helgi Felixson's significantly titled God Bless Iceland shows what life is like in a bankrupt state. For example, this film full of paradoxical situations illustrates how a policeman cracking down on the demonstrators is a bigger victim of the crisis than the anarchists smashing windows. Another of the protagonists, a driver called Sturla, suffers primarily because he has to sell one of his cars and his son's motocross bike. This documentary also records moments that preceded a notorious speech by prime minister Haarde (in which he convinced the nation of the island's bright future), as well as the violent demonstrations in Reykjavik demanding his resignation.
» Trailer