Íslenska

Mihkel

The Biblical story of Judas is retold by way of a real-life tragedy that took place in Iceland in 2004. We meet three childhood friends in Estonia – Mihkel, Veera and Igor – at the time when their country is breaking with the Soviet Union. The first country to formally recognize Estonian independence in 1991 was Iceland. Iceland immediately became a symbol of hope.

Twenty years later the story continues. Igor has emigrated to Iceland a few years earlier and told Mihkel of all the opportunities it has to offer. Mihkel decides to make a new life for himself and his fiancée, Veera. Igor convinces Mihkel to transport liquid amphetamine and then seek payment from an Estonian priest, Igor’s business partner in Tallinn. Rather than getting paid, he is instead coerced into swallowing seventy capsules of drugs to take on to Iceland.

He arrives in Iceland and is picked up by Igor and his two Icelandic accomplices, Jóhann and Bóbó. However, in the next two days it becomes clear that Mihkel cannot pass the drugs. More frantic activity ensues as the situation becomes more serious. Finally, in great pain and deep delirium, Mihkel dies.

Mihkel’s death brings problems for the team: Bóbó abandons Jóhann and Igor who pack up Mihkel’s corpse in a truck and set out on a nightmarish journey across the dark winter landscape to Bóbó’s hometown where, together, they dump Mihkel’s corpse into the cold Atlantic ocean.

Where to watch

About the film

  • Type
    Feature Film
  • National Premiere Date
    October 12, 2018, Smárabíó
  • International Premiere Date
    October 6, 2018, Busan International Film Festival
  • Genre
    Drama
  • Length
    105 min.
  • Language
    Icelandic, English, Estonian
  • Original Title
    Undir halastjörnu
  • International Title
    Mihkel
  • Production Year
    2018
  • Production Countries
    Iceland, Norway, Estonia
  • IMDB
  • Website
  • Icelandic Film Centre Grant
    Yes
  • Production Format
    Arri Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio
    1.85:1
  • Color
    Yes
  • Sound
    Dolby Digital
  • Screening format and subtitles
    DCP, English subtitles.

Company Credits

Festivals

  • 2018
    Busan International Film Festival
  • 2018
    Warsaw Film Festival