Icelandic Film Centre
Íslenska

Days of Destruction

The film begins in the early hours of the morning of January 23rd 1973. A mile long fissure had ripped itself open on the outskirt of the fishing village on Heimaey, a small island of the Vestmannaeyjar group, off the South Coast of Iceland. Glowing ash and molten lava was spewed over the sleeping town. We see the evacuation of the 500 inhabitants, both by air and by sea. We witnes unbelievable scenes of bellowing craters, flowing lava, burning and collapsing buildings. We learn of the agony and uncertainty of people made homeless, and of the measures taken by the Civil Defence to deal with a disaster of an enormity rarely faced by so small a nation.

Crew

About the film

  • Type
    Documentary
  • Length
    27 min.
  • Language
    Icelandic, English
  • Original Title
    Eldeyjan
  • International Title
    Days of Destruction
  • Production Year
    1973
  • Production Countries
    Iceland
  • Icelandic Film Centre Grant
    No
  • Production Format
    16mm
  • Color
    Yes

Company Credits

Festivals

  • 1973
    International Film Festival Atlanta - Award: The Gold Phoenix for best documentary