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Beautiful Beings (2023) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Beautiful Beings (2023) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 123 min · Icelandic
Echo score 71
Directed by
Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
Starring
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Anita Briem, Áskell Einar Pálmason, Birgir Dagur Bjarkason, Blær Hinriksson, Ísgerður Elfa Gunnarsdóttir

A young outcast named Addi forms an unexpected connection with a bullied misfit, leading to a journey of self-discovery and friendship among a group of outsiders. As their actions escalate and create turmoil, Addi’s clairvoyant mother’s prophetic warnings appear as vivid, dreamlike visions. He must now rely on his burgeoning intuition to guide himself and his friends, hoping to find redemption and avoid devastating consequences.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Beautiful Beings
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Beautiful Beings (2023)

Where can you watch Beautiful Beings? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on OVID, Kanopy and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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3 main characters · contains spoilers

Beautiful Beings Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Beautiful Beings (2023), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Balli (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson)

    Balli is a sensitive and somewhat vulnerable teenager, living in a troubled environment with an absent father and a jailed stepfather. His quiet resilience and internal struggles make him a symbol of innocence affected by his harsh surroundings.

    • 💧Sensitive
    • 🚸 Vulnerable
    • 🧠Introspective
  • Addi (Anita Briem / Áskell Einar Pálmason)

    Addi is an introspective and empathetic boy who experiences psychic dreams reflecting his internal fears. He struggles with his family dynamics and the violence among his peers, trying to maintain morality in a chaotic environment.

    • 🌌Intuitive
    • 🤔Thoughtful
    • 🌧️ Anxious
  • Konni (Viktor Benóný Benediktsson)

    Konni is aggressive and rebellious, often acting impulsively and asserting dominance through violence. His troubled home life and willingness to participate in risky behaviors reveal deep-seated insecurities.

    • 🔥Rebellious
    • 🚶‍♂️Impulsive
    • 💪Aggressive

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:40

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Setting

Where and When Does Beautiful Beings Take Place?

The setting of Beautiful Beings (2023): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Contemporary, early 21st century

The events unfold in present-day Iceland, a time marked by rising youth violence and social issues. The modern setting underscores current youth struggles, such as bullying, gang conflicts, and psychological tensions, illustrating issues relevant to contemporary society.

Location

Iceland, Industrial areas

The movie is set in Iceland, a country known for its stunning natural landscapes and strong community ties. Much of the story takes place in urban and industrial locations, including old, squalid houses and industrial rooftops, reflecting the gritty and sometimes harsh environment where youth confrontation occurs.

  • ❄️ Cold
  • 🏭 Industrial
  • 🏡 Urban

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:40

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2 major themes

Beautiful Beings Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Beautiful Beings (2023) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Violence

    The film explores the cycle of violence among Icelandic youth, highlighting bullying, fights, and vigilante acts. It questions how environmental and familial abuse influence aggressive behaviors, emphasizing the destructive impact of violence both physically and psychologically.

  • Psychic Power

    Addi experiences psychic dreams and visions, which symbolize his subconscious fears and intuitive insights. This supernatural element enhances the narrative by portraying the internal struggle and foreknowledge about inevitable tragic outcomes.

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:40

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Character & theme questions

Beautiful Beings Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Beautiful Beings (2023): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film takes place in Iceland, primarily in urban and industrial areas. The settings include old, squalid houses and industrial rooftops, creating a gritty environment that reflects the harsh realities faced by the young characters.

  • iceland
  • setting
  • industrial
  • urban
  • locations
Q2

When does the story take place?

The events unfold in present-day Iceland, reflecting contemporary society. The modern setting addresses current youth issues like bullying, gang conflicts, and psychological tensions that are relevant to today's world.

  • present day
  • contemporary
  • time period
  • iceland
Q3

What is the main theme of the movie?

The film explores the cycle of violence among Icelandic youth, examining how bullying, fights, and vigilante acts are influenced by environmental and familial abuse. It emphasizes the destructive physical and psychological impact of violence.

  • youth violence
  • bullying
  • cycle of violence
  • abuse
  • theme
Q4

What is the significance of Addi's psychic visions?

Addi experiences psychic dreams and visions that symbolize his subconscious fears and intuitive insights. These supernatural elements portray his internal struggle and foreknowledge about tragic outcomes, adding depth to his character's journey.

  • psychic dreams
  • visions
  • clairvoyance
  • Addi
  • supernatural
Q5

Who is Balli in the story?

Balli is a sensitive and vulnerable teenager living in a troubled environment with an absent father and a jailed stepfather. His quiet resilience and internal struggles make him a symbol of innocence affected by his harsh surroundings.

  • Balli
  • character
  • Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
  • vulnerable
Q6

Who is Addi and what defines him?

Addi is an introspective and empathetic boy who experiences psychic dreams reflecting his internal fears. He struggles with difficult family dynamics and the violence among his peers, constantly trying to maintain morality in a chaotic environment.

  • Addi
  • character
  • Anita Briem
  • psychic
  • empathetic
Q7

Who is Konni and what drives him?

Konni is an aggressive and rebellious teenager who acts impulsively and asserts dominance through violence. His troubled home life and willingness to participate in risky behaviors stem from deep-seated insecurities.

  • Konni
  • character
  • Viktor Benóný Benediktsson
  • aggressive
  • rebellious
Q8

What is the central relationship in the movie?

The story centers on the unexpected connection between Addi and a bullied misfit, forming a group of outsiders who find friendship amid their struggles. This bond drives their journey of self-discovery and the quest for redemption.

  • friendship
  • outcasts
  • connection
  • redemption
  • group
Q9

What is the overall tone of the film?

The film has a predominantly bleak tone, established through its grim Icelandic setting and harsh outcomes. While the ending offers a bittersweet shift with notes of cautious hope, the overall atmosphere remains somber and reflective of harsh reality.

  • tone
  • bleak
  • atmosphere
  • mood
  • bittersweet
Q10

What social issues does the movie address?

The movie addresses rising youth violence and social issues in contemporary Iceland, including bullying, gang conflicts, psychological tensions, domestic abuse, and the consequences of severe violence among teenagers.

  • social issues
  • youth violence
  • bullying
  • domestic abuse
  • icelandic society

Movie threads

More Movies Like Beautiful Beings, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Beautiful Beings tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Bleak youth dramas with violent undercurrents like Beautiful Beings

Gritty stories of troubled teens navigating cycles of violence and despair. A collection of movies like Beautiful Beings that delve into the harsh realities of adolescent life. These films share a raw, anxious tone and explore themes of youth violence, trauma, and the fragile bonds of friendship formed in desperate circumstances. If you liked the intense and somber atmosphere of Beautiful Beings, you'll find similar stories here.

  • raw
  • anxious
  • oppressive
  • brutal
  • somber
  • lonely
  • Tone: bleak, raw, anxious
  • Pacing: steady, consequential
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often follow a group of young outsiders as they band together for survival. The journey is typically marked by external threats, internal conflicts, and a steady escalation of violence that tests their loyalties. The plot unfolds with a sense of inevitable turmoil, leading to consequences that challenge any hope of a simple escape.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together due to their shared focus on the brutal and often bleak experiences of youth. They possess a high emotional intensity, a raw and anxious mood, and a narrative drive centered on the consequences of violence and trauma. The similarities in tone, thematic weight, and character dynamics create a cohesive viewing experience.

Movies with supernatural intuition in harsh reality like Beautiful Beings

Characters guided by psychic abilities or dreams through difficult, real-world crises. Discover films similar to Beautiful Beings where characters experience visions or heightened intuition that guides them through brutal realities. These stories blend dreamlike, ominous elements with heavy dramas about trauma and redemption. If you appreciated the clairvoyant visions set against a backdrop of youth violence in Beautiful Beings, explore this thread for more.

  • dreamlike
  • ominous
  • anxious
  • psychological
  • somber
  • intuitive
  • Tone: ominous, bleak, dreamlike
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist who receives forewarnings or intuitive feelings about impending danger or moral crossroads. These visions are often ambiguous and dreamlike, adding a layer of psychological complexity to the central drama. The story explores the burden of this knowledge as the character tries to alter a seemingly predetermined path of conflict and consequence.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a unique blend of mystical elements with a grounded, often heavy dramatic core. They are united by a specific narrative device where supernatural insight clashes with human fragility. The similarity lies in the mood—anxious and ominous—and the thematic exploration of fate versus choice within a high-stakes emotional journey.

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Movies Like Beautiful Beings

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Every angle

Beautiful Beings (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Beautiful Beings in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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