Winter Brothers (Hlynur Palmason, 2017), Denmark

Reviewed by Michael G. Viewed at AFI Fest 2017.

Director Hlynur Palmason pushes the boundaries of the abstract in this story centering on the minds behavior in an environment of isolation. Contrasting the environments and shooting in 16mm and washing out color for a flat dead look furthering feelings of isolation. Elliott Crosset Hove (playing Emil) sets the scene in building a strangely concerning character that becomes more distraught as isolation is increased. Emil stands in stark contrast to his brother Johan (played by Simon Sears). Simon is the good looking brother of the two which becomes problematic when a girl comes between them and pushes Emil to the limits of his ability to withstand isolation.

The film focuses on two brothers living in a small community of Danish workers at a construction and digging/mining site in the middle of nowhere. The sheer nothingness of this life is highlighted by the absolute darkness of the tunnels which are only briefly lit at the crossing of a light from a helmet or from the flying sparks from the axe as the workers mine the rock. To set a mood, the film quickly transitions outside showing a bright white snow covered scenery which is no more interesting than the black darkness of the mine. The barracks where the two brothers live continues this theme – bare rooms with very little furniture, indoor-outdoor carpeting, dirty old kitchens and appliances that feel from a different era. The only cut to normality is the one single girl in all the camp, who becomes part of a love triangle bringing relationships to a tipping point.

Although the film generates a feeling of isolation, the amount of abstraction through the story line distracts too much and never allows the viewer to get completely and intimately involved in the story. At times the movie felt chaotic without purpose and distracted from the cinematography, the visions, and the isolation that made this camp so important to the characters state of mind and mental health.

Worth the see but somehow lacking in delivery.