NÓI
Directed & Written by: Dagur Kári.
Produced by: Philippe Bober, Kim Magnusson, Skúli Fr. Malmquist & Thorir Snaer Sigurjónsson.
Director of Photography: Rasmus Videbaek.
Edited by: Daniel Dencik.
Music by: Slowblow.
Released by: Palm Pictures.
Country of Origin: Iceland. 93 min. Not Rated.
With: Tómas Lemarquis & Elín Handsdóttir.

Nói (Lemarquis), an albino teenager who is either too smart or unmotivated to care about high school, dreams of escaping the snow-covered fjord on which he lives. He continually ditches school to wander around his small Icelandic town, visiting his alcoholic father or ducking into his basement to daydream. Like a breathe of fresh air, Iris (Handsdóttir), the lovely daughter of the local bookshop owner, moves into town, and Nói includes her into his vision of running away to a distant tropical island. Fed up with simply dreaming, he takes action, going as far as trying to rob the local bank, where the tellers recognize him by name. He resorts to withdrawing money from his own savings account, instead. This is typical of the sad humor in Noi's predicament.

Nói is a coming-of-age tale, complete with angst and romance, set apart by its unusual setting, subtle acting and moody score. The icy landscape includes a volcano, looming menacingly in the distance. Nói's seemingly simple-minded character surprises us with occasional displays of quirky smarts, like the quickness with which he solves a Rubik’s Cube. Writer and director Dagur Kári also wrote the film's score with his band Slowblow. The music, reminiscent of Iceland's Sigur Rós, adds an enchanting and youthful layer to the melancholy film. The deadpan humor is akin Aki Kaurismäki's The Man Without a Past (2002). And although tragic, Nói is not far removed from last year’s All the Real Girls, another depiction of small town confinement. Caitlin Shamberg, former programming associate for the Mill Valley Film Festival
March 17, 2004