“Categorizing films by the sexuality of protagonists needs to stop”

That certainly does not apply to my film, says director of award-winning film “And Breathe Normally”.

The film was screened at the Sundance Film Festival, where Ísold (pictured) was awarded with the best international director award, and at the Gothenburg Film Festival, where it got the international critics award as best picture.

And Breathe Normally, the first feature film of multi award-winning director Ísold Uggadóttir, had it’s premier in Iceland on March 9th. It had already been screened at the Sundance Film Festival, where Ísold was awarded with the best international director award, and at the Gothenburg Film Festival, where it got the international critics award as best picture. Written and directed by Ísold and starring Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir, Babetida Sadjo, and Patrik Nökkvi Pétursson, the story details the connection made between a refugee on her way to Canada and a border patrol officer struggling to raise her young son on her own. Where did Ísold get the idea for this story?
“I started working on the script back in 2012,” Ísold says. “Then I had just moved back to Iceland after living ten years in the U.S. and I got preoccupied with poverty in Iceland and the daily struggle of single mothers to support themselves and their children. I wanted to tell the story of that struggle and how it affects their whole life.”

“And Breathe Normally and Rift are first and foremost stories of human feelings and interaction and I think it might be time to stop categorising films by the sexual orientation of their protagonists.”

The other protagonist in the film is a refugee from Guinea-Bissau which has had to flee her home country because of her sexual orientation, where did her story come from?
“When I was writing the script for And Breathe Normally I spent a lot of time in town Reykjanesbær where the other protagonist, Lára, lives and as there was a lot of discussion at the time about refugees who were living in a refugee center in Reykjanesbær and how they were stranded there, not able to leave, not able to stay, I got interested in somehow combining the stories of these two struggling

The story details the connection made between a refugee on her way to Canada and a border patrol officer struggling to raise her young son on her own.

women from different corners of the world. I registered in the friends program of the Red Cross in Iceland and through them got to know and befriend a woman from Uganda who had been forced to flee her home country because she was a lesbian. It seemed important to show how in some countries your life can be in danger just because of your sexual orientation.”

In the film Adja is not from Uganda but from Guinea-Bissau, why did you change her homeland?
“Because the actress who plays her is from Guinea-Bissau,” Ísold explains. “The film is partly financed by Belgians and we worked with a casting agency in Brussel to find the actress to play Adja. We got 13 actresses to audition and Babetida Sadjo’s performance just took our breaths away. She was exactly what I was looking for. When we started working together she shared stories of homosexuals in Guinea-Bissau who had been forced to flee their country and we interwove those stories into the script. So even though Adja had been from Uganda in the original script we decided to change her country of origin to Guinea-Bissau.”

The other protagonist in the film is a refugee from Guinea-Bissau which has had to flee her home country because of her sexual orientation.

It is obvious why you choose to make Adja a lesbian, as it is the reason for her status as a refugee, but why did you decide to make Lára a lesbian as well?
“I’ve gotten that question before,” Ísold says with a sigh. “It was not really a conscious decision, no more so than making her a brunette. She just is a lesbian. That’s not an issue. You could just as well ask me why she has dark hair.”

Watching the film one can see what Ísold means by that answer. A Breathe Normally is not a “gay film” by any stretch of that definition, even though both the main protagonists are lesbian. But given the fact that lesbians have been a rare sight in Icelandic movies in the past and that recently the film Rift, by Erlingur Óttar Thoroddsen had a gay couple as protagonists, we press the point. Has the trend for gay mainstream films finally reached Iceland?

“I don’t know,” Ísold says. “My short film Family Reunion from 2006 had a lesbian protagonist, so it’s not unheard of in the Icelandic film industry, but it’s true that it has not been common here. Abroad it’s been happening for quite some time, as homosexuality has become more normalised, and in my opinion it is no longer any issue. Films like Moonlight and Call Me By Your Name are mainstream films which may have opened this genre – if it even is a genre – up to the public, but they as well as And Breathe Normally and Rift are first and foremost stories of human feelings and interaction and I think it might be time to stop categorising films by the sexual orientation of their protagonists. It most definitely does not apply to And Breathe Normally at any rate.”

“ She just is a lesbian. That’s not an issue. You could just as well ask me why she has dark hair.”

The scene stealer in And Breathe Normally is Patrik Nökkvi Pétursson who plays Eldar, Lára’s son. This was his first experience as a film actor and Ísold says that when he auditioned in a scene where Eldar is looking for his cat she  instantly knew that he was the right one for the part.
“We had been looking for children to act in the film for quite some time when Patrik Nökkvi came to audition. He just nailed it in one take. Showing such determination and dept of feelings looking for an imaginary cat in a shed that we just knew we had struck gold. And his bonding with the cat, when we started shooting for real was exceptional. One of the advice that aspiring film directors usually get is not using children and animals in their first feature film, as they are really hard to direct, but I had directed children before and I wanted to tell the story of this boy and his mother – and the cat, of course, the cat is essential.”

And Breathe Normally is the first feature film of multi award-winning director Ísold Uggadóttir.

Even though Ísold is a Columbia University MFA graduate her film, And Breathe Normally, has a strong European aura. Does she look more to European film makers than American ones?
“Yeah, maybe I do,” she muses. “Even though I studied in New York and lived there for ten years I don’t really find American films representing the things that speak to me most in films. So I guess you could say that my film making is more in the European vain. And I admit that my favorite film makers are European. Also I spent quite some time in Europe while writing the script besides the film being a multi national European cooperation and the head of cinematography is Polish, and that might have had some influence on how the final outcome looks.”

And Breathe Normally had it’s world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January where it got rave reviews and Ísold won the award as best international director. That was followed up by the film getting the international critics award as best picture in Gothenburg. Was she expecting such enthusiastic receptions?
“I was not really thinking about the reception the film would get at that point,” Ísold admits. “All the energy went into getting the film ready for screening, gathering my cast and crew to be in attendance at Sundance etc. and I had not spared a thought for how the audience would react. When they read my name out loud as best international director I was simply stunned and it took a while to register that they meant me. But of course I’m very happy about this honour and grateful to the judges both in Sundance and in Gothenburg.”

“When you are telling a story it has to come from your heart. You really have to live and breathe in the world of the film while you’re working on it. If you are only doing it for money and fame it always shows in the outcome.”

Now the film has had it’s premier here in Iceland what will be the next steps?
“We will take it to a feminist film festival in Stockholm later this month and it will be shown in cinemas all around Sweden later this year. Our distribution company, The Match Factory in Berlin, is working on it’s promotion and distribution and we’ll just have to wait and see where that takes us. This all takes a very long time in this business, but after this unbelivable start we are optimistic about it’s future.”

With all these awards under her belt Ísold has been getting propositions to direct films by other writers, is that something she would consider doing or is she set on telling her own stories?
“That’s one of the things I’m thinking about these days,” she says with a little laugh. “I’m not really sure if I want to be just the director. I would at least have to choose the film very carefully. When you are telling a story it has to come from your heart. You really have to live and breathe in the world of the film while you’re working on it. If you are only doing it for money and fame it always shows in the outcome. I don’t think I would ever be able to tell a story I didn’t believe in with all my heart.”

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

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Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

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      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

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        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
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        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

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        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

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          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

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