Woman at War **** (out of 5) (NR) One of the great joys of reviewing is finding the occasional “sleeper” that unfolds as much more of a gem than expected. This quirky dramedy, that’s earned a number of festival nominations and awards here and in Europe, comes from Iceland. Their exports to the U.S. rarely include films, but this one could start more of a trend.
The heroine is a middle-aged chorus director in a small town who becomes a latter-day Zorro by sabotaging a local aluminum factory that’s ruining the environment. Her methods are quite impressive, as she mostly acts alone to preserve anonymity. She has her own “particular set of skills” for wreaking havoc on machinery without harm to people, while otherwise seeming to be the last person anyone would suspect.
I’ll save the rest of the plot and characters so you can watch with a slate nearly as blank as mine was. Put one in the plus column for the script’s making its points about protecting one’s environment without ever becoming preachy or melodramatic. Take note, Mr. Gore.
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The unusual method of intertwining the score with plot movement is wonderfully clever, adding greatly to the droll comic tone that makes this work. The titular warrior plays her part with a perfectly understated performance, befitting the settings and premise. Iceland’s barren landscapes might not inspire waves of tourists to flock there, but this film certainly raises curiosity about what else we have yet to savor from its version of Hollywood. (3/15/19)