Consul Thomsen Bought A Car

When the first car arrived in Iceland in 1904 it revolutionised land transport. Living in a vast country, with mountains and rivers, Icelanders never took the train into use, but they were quick to realise the usefulness of cars, and jumped right from the horseback into the driver's seat. Using archive films and interviews with some of the pioneers (all have since passed away), this documentary explains the important role that the automobile played in Icelandic society.

The first car in Iceland was a 1901 second-hand German car orginating from the Cudell factory in Aachen. Commencing at that point, the film goes on to recount the story of the car in Iceland over time and its effect on transport and road communications. A special section is devoted to the jeep and its deep impact as the Icelanders learned how to use it as a means of conquering the uninhabited highlands.

Crew

Directed by

Hjálmtýr Heiðdal
Screenplay

Finnbogi Hermannsson, Ásgeir Sigurgestsson, Hjálmtýr Heiðdal
Director of Photography

Guðmundur Bjartmarsson, Hjálmtýr Heiðdal
Music Composer

Vilhjálmur Guðjónsson
Producer

Hjálmtýr Heiðdal, Finnbogi Hermannsson, Ásgeir Sigurgestsson

About the film

Type

Documentary
Length

50 min.
Language

Icelandic
Original Title

Konsúll Thomsen keypti bíl
International Title

Consul Thomsen Bought A Car
Production Year

1990
Production Countries

Iceland
Website

http://seylan.is/Konsull_Thomsen.html
Icelandic Film Centre Grant

Yes
Production Format

Betacam
Color

Yes

Company Credits

Production Company

Seylan Film Production
Supported by

Icelandic Film Fund

Television distribution

Iceland

RÚV, 1992
Iceland

RÚV, 1996