Dreamland
Dreamland is a film about a nation standing at cross-roads. Leading up to the country’s greatest economic crisis, the government started the largest mega project in the history of Iceland, to build the biggest dam in Europe to provide Alcoa cheap electricity for an aluminum smelter in the rugged east fjords of Iceland. The mantra was economic growth. Today Iceland is left holding a huge dept and an uncertain future.
Dreamland is a film about exploitation of natural resources and as Icelanders have learned clean energy does not come without consequence. Iceland is a country blessed with an abundance of clean, renewable, hydro-electric and geothermal energy. Clean energy brings in polluting industry and international corporations.
Dreamland tells the story of a nation with abundance of choices gradually becoming caught up in a plan to turn its wilderness and beautiful nature into a massive system of hydro-electric and geothermal power plants with dams and reservoirs, built to power the increasing heavy industry that will soon make Iceland the largest aluminum smelter in the world.
This highly controversial matter goes largely unnoticed by the public until the plans are already in action and the industrial machine has been turned on. Although most Icelanders are against the idea of turning Iceland into the world’s biggest smelter of aluminum the locals where the smelters are meant to be built, celebrate the idea of increasing investment in their region and more jobs. For decades they have been getting desperate, facing depopulation as the young generation finds education and better jobs in the capital.
This multilayered story is also the story of a small nation’s continuing struggle for its independence, and today from multinational companies roaming the world. We try to grasp peoples fear for the future. The insecurity created by the constant news of looming economic slowdown, and uncertain future.
The question remains, how much unspoiled nature should we preserve and what do we sacrifice for clean, renewable energy? Dreamland gradually turns into a disturbing picture of corporate power taking over nature and small communities. It’s the dark side of green energy.
Crew
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Directed by
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Director of Photography
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Editor
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Music Composer
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Producer
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Co-Producer
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Based on an idea by
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Camera
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Camera Assistant
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Color Grader
About the film
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TypeDocumentary
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National Premiere DateApril 8, 2009, Háskólabíó
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Length89 min.
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LanguageIcelandic, English
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Original TitleDraumalandið
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International TitleDreamland
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Production Year2009
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Production CountriesIceland
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IMDB
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Website
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Icelandic Film Centre GrantYes
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Based on aNon-fiction work
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Production Format35mm, 16mm, 8mm, HD, DV
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Aspect Ratio16:9
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ColorYes
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SoundDolby Digital
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Screening format and subtitles35mm film with English sub. - 35mm film without sub. - DigiBeta with English sub. Blu Ray with; English sub.
Company Credits
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Production Company
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In Partnership With
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Supported by
Festivals
- 2016Mirgorod Film Festival, Poltava, Úkraína
- 2015Culturescapes, Basel
- 2015Culture Unplugged Festival
- 2014Gallery Verkligheten
- 2014Icelandic Literature Summer, Schleswig-Holstein
- 2012Images from the Edge: Classic and Contemporary Films from Iceland, Lincoln Center, New York
- 2012Doclisboa International Film Festival, Portugal
- 2011Cinemateket, Oslo
- 2011ViewFinders: International Film Festival for Youth - Award: Best Documentary Film.
- 2011Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland.
Releases
- Sena, 2009 - DVD
