PIC of the Week – Lamb
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
In the past half dozen years A24 has released some of the most original, controversial and electrifying films and just when you think they could not possibly top themselves along comes Valdimar Jóhannsson’s Lamb. A lonely farm couple living in a remote part of Iceland happen to have one of their sheep give birth to something either very special or a harbinger of doom. Jóhannsson and Sjón, an international acclaimed Icelandic author, have concocted a unique, bizarre, disturbing allegory that contains one of the most shocking endings I have seen in quite some time.
Jóhannsson captures both the beauty and the sheer coldness of the Iceland landscape. It is portrayed in an almost mythic form and probably is a character in itself where Maria and Ingvar live. They farm the land and raise sheep, rams and horses. Their only other companion is their dog until the sheep give birth and one unusual surprises enters their lives.
Something is very special about this one lamb and Maria sees it as a Godsend since she is unable to carry a baby full term. She takes it into her home and Ingvar is uncomfortable at first. He knows his wife’s attachment is very strange, probably as strange as this lamb. But, soon he finds himself caring for the lamb as much as his wife and they begin to act like a real family and even name it, Ada.
Soon Maria feels threatened by Ada’s natural mother that stands by Ada’s bedroom window bleating for her lamb. Maria and Ingvar do what they can to keep the sheep away from Ada. But, the natural mother is very persistent.
Not only is there tension between Maria and Ada’s mother, but to complicate matters, Ingvar’s brother,
Pétur, makes an unannounced visit. There seems to be some kind of hidden backstory between the two that Ingvar is clueless to. Pétur pretty much behaves himself until he is introduced to the new member of the family. He is shocked and finds the thing an abomination. He questions his brother’s sensibilities as to why he would allow his wife to treat the thing as if she had given birth to it.
When Ingvar is called off into town, one cannot help feel that something awful is about to happen. Whether it be to Maria, Ingvar, Pétur and/or Ada we have no idea. What does transpire is as numbing and shocking as another A24 film, The VVitch.
Noomi Rapace as Maria is both earthy, maternal and at the same time she can even be cold blooded. She makes the story come alive and has us accept Ada’s existence. She goes from a common farm woman accepting her dull routine until the birth of Ada awakens her yearning to be a mother. Hilmir Snær Guðnason as Ingvar is perfect as the commoner that stumbles across the fantastic and with subtle graciousness comes to accept what he has been either graced or cursed with. Björn Hlynur Haraldsson as Pétur translates the wayward, troubled brother with wonderful deft. He can be charming, off-putting and threatening.
Writer/director Valdimar Jóhannsson and his co-writer Sjón takes us to a place rarely visited. It almost feels like a Brother’s Grimm fairytale replete with all the wonderment and darkness. But, this is no child’s tale. Here is a grim lesson to be learned that will have you talking long after the picture his over. This is a foreign film where everyone speaks Icelandic therefore subtitles are needed. To dub this movie would be an absolute shame.
At this time, Lamb can only be rented for $5.99 (HD) or purchased for $12.99 at Amazon or Vudu. I purchased it since I plan to show it to as many friends as possible even with the threat of losing some of them. By the way, do not confuse it with 2016 Lamb. Totally different movie. This brilliantly bizarre A24 release was in 2021.
Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
