Cast: Jónsi Birgisson, Kjartan Sveinsson, Orri Páll Dýrason, Georg Holm

Director: Dean DeBlois

Running-time: 1hr 40 mins

Genre: Rock Film


REVIEW:


The opening reel of this so-called rock film is a montage so astonishing to behold: a backward playback of a flowing stream, tracing its origin, until to the waterfall as the cascading water retreats to where it came from – while the heartbreaking tune of “Glósoli” plays in the background. From this scene alone, only one of the many stunning and beautiful imagery of HEIMA, it’s undisputed that this transcends way beyond as being a rock film. This is the reinvention of a concert film, impressed with a revolutionary imprint that only a very few artists today have ever achieved.


HEIMA, Icelandic meaning for “home”, is Sigur Ros’ vision in paying tribute to their homeland Iceland. Unlike any concert films, this doesn’t show us with reels of screaming fans and hardcore concert scenes, but gives us photography unlike any other in the form of high-definition moving vistas that captures the real beauty and near-perfection of Icelandic landscapes and scenery. Taken during the summer of 2006, where the band Sigur Ros goes back to their roots after years of touring the world and capturing the gushes of appraisals from music critics around the globe, they decided to perform for free around their home country, in locations almost impossible to imagine. From the middle of fields in nowhere, to the volcanic land-spots, in an abandoned fish factory, seafronts, in sleepy hamlets, and of course, the capital of Rejkyavik, after seeing this you, it would tempt you to book your next holiday trip to Iceland straight on.


It is in the spirit of the film and its concept that makes HEIMA a very moving and personal experience. Combined with Sigur Ros’ hauntingly beautiful, sweeping, ethereal and enigmatic music, it is very rare for a concert film that would put you in pathos of sheer encapsulation, as though you’re envisaged in a personal meditation. What Sigur Ros have done here for their country is a wonderful tribute. Engrossing timelapse photography of nature, sunrise, sunsets, open fields, mountains, visceral fields, and also towns, villages, children and people, are all heralded in a statement of love for the home country. This is pure life captured in a quiet, subtle manner.


One of the most emotional and heartwarming scenes would have to be Sigur Ros’ performance in a lunch hall, where as they were singing, the camera shows the local people who are all related to each other from generations to generations, having lunch together and enjoying each other’s companies. The scene of children flying kites with the song “Hoppipolla” being played a magnificent sight-and-sound to be remembered always. After all, it’s their music that gives this film a mesmerising atmosphere.


VERDICT:


It’s gorgeous, magical, breathtaking, and thoughtfully evocative. Being the best music film ever made is no question. For some who doesn’t know about this band Sigur Ros, you are in for a musical challenge; while for fans, let this overflow you with nostalgia and any other memories and emotions that only this band can conjure with their music of isolated, majestic precision. HEIMA may be small in scale, but it’s a gigantic masterpiece and the most perfect love-letter that anyone can give to their homeland.


RATING: A+