After living in the United States, Freya (Vilhjálmsdóttir) returns to her home town, a small fishing town near Reykjavik. Having outgrown her chubby childhood physique, she is now beautiful and stylishly clad in beautiful 1950s dress suits and heels. She goes as far as to compare herself to Rita Hayworth. Her slim figure, long hair and elegant dresses impress her relatives and turn the heads of all the men in town. Married to an American serviceman during WWII, she is now a widow and looking for someone to replace him. She knows the power she wields as a sexy woman and sets out to protect her relatives against drunk husbands and cheating fiancées. Sometimes, this involves murder. Although working class, Freya has her sites set on the already-engaged Björn (Ferch), a wealthy engineer. Her good looks and flirtatious nature help her achieve her goal, culminating in a steamy scene, humorously set beneath a canope of dried codfish. Meanwhile, Freya is being closely watched by 11-year-old Agga (Egilsdóttir), a cousin, who is constantly just behind her, trying to figure out just what is happening. Agga is convinced that Freya is evil, possibly a murderer. However, in the process of trailing Freya, Agga learns how to stand up for herself in a 1950s, male-dominant society.

This fairy tale-like story is enhanced by the colorful photography, smooth camera work and the dramatic Icelandic landscape of lava fields and the sea. However, the film is a bit simplistic: the men are goofy, oafish and drunk, while the women are much more complex. Yet, even the portrayal of the women is something we have seen before. Lacking wit overall, the film fails to rise above a charming tale to a more nuanced and dark portrayal of the battle between the sexes. Caitlin Shamberg, former programming associate, Mill Valley Film Festival
February 12, 2004