Woman at War was described to me as an Icelandic thriller. It is set in Iceland and comes complete with thrilling scenes, but this story of one woman's war against the Government's co-operation with polluting multinational companies is more than just a thriller.
Director Benedikt Erlingsson provides a deft hand, with the tone moving between drama, thriller and comedy as he tackles the topical issues of climate change, preserving unique landscapes, and foreign investment. There's an obvious substance to these themes but it's done with warmth and wit and is wonderfully offbeat.
It's an unusual comment, but this thriller will put a smile on your face.
The story opens on Halla (Halldora Geirharosdottir), a lone woman on the Icelandic highlands firing an arrow across high-voltage power lines. After creating a power outage, she's on the run, evading helicopters and police until she's helped by a local farmer, who aids her escape.
It's an intriguing beginning, and an amusing one as the band responsible for the film's soundtrack appear in the back of the shot, like a live orchestra accompanying the scene. As the story progresses Halla begins to acknowledge their presence, with the drummer on his own becoming a foreboding sign.
