Top Icelandic partners join Fridrik Thór Fridriksson, Hilmar Oddsson films

Set up in 2015 by seasoned producer Hlin Johannesdóttir (Quake, The Swan, Back Soon), Ursus Parvus has teamed up with strong financial and creative partners for Dancing Lines and Road Trip with Mom (Á ferð með mömmu)

Dancing Lines (Dansandi línur), is the latest documentary project from Oscar-nominated seasoned director Fridrik Thór Fridriksson (Children of Nature, Mother's Courage; Talking Back to Autism). It’s a journey into the world of visual artist Karl Gudmundsson, who despite being severely disabled, and able to communicate only with his eyes, has firmly established himself on the Icelandic art scene.

“How Gudmundsson does it is the question that always comes up, not just because of the scale of his work but also the scale of his vivid thoughts and imagination, despite being locked inside his body with only his eyes to speak," said scriptwriter Vilborg Einarsdóttir who serves as producer on the film, alongside Johannesdóttir.

Einarsdóttir who attended the pitching session at Nordisk Panorama on Monday, said she received very positive responses from potential co-financiers, interested “both in the artistic and human aspects” of the project. She mentioned the key support from the Icelandic Film Centre which is covering 47% of the budget through script, development and production support.

Other co-financiers until now include Iceland’s OTT and SVOD service Síminn, distributor Sena and private investors.

Meanwhile Hilmar Oddsson (Cold Light) who hasn’t directed a feature in 12 years, is making his comeback with the comedy drama Road Trip with Mum (Á ferð með mömmu), based on his original script.

Jóhannesdóttir is producing, together with Zik Zak Filmworks, with co-financing from the Icelandic Film Centre, RÚV, distributors Scanbox for Scandinavia, Sena for Iceland, Estonian tax rebates and Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Oddsson who said he was inspired by Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger than Paradise, Roman Polanski’s Cul de Sac, Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow Up among others, describes the film as a road movie, in which we meet characters - both love and dead, on a journey, a black comedy about a highly unusual mother and son relationship, alternating between realism and absurdity.

Top cast and crew include actors Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson (Fractures, White Night Wedding), Kristbjörg Kjeld (Mamma Gógó, Sparrows), Tómas Lemarquis (Noi Albinoi), cinematographer Ottar Gudnason (The Oath, A Little Trip to Heaven), and production designer Drifa Freyju-Ármannsdottir (The Minister, Agnes Joy).

The premiere is set for late spring 2022.