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Year: 2008
Runtime: 93 min
Language: Icelandic
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
In a gritty, crime-ridden underworld, a determined inspector and a desperate father converge on the same cold case: the brutal murder of an elderly loner. As the investigation unfolds, dark secrets from the past resurface, threatening to destroy lives and shatter national taboos. A chilling mystery that exposes the darker side of human nature.
Warning: spoilers below!
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The film unfolds a captivating narrative that intertwines the lives of two individuals through a clever blend of flashbacks and the linear progression of time, all stemming from a tragic murder in a serene coastal town in France. On one side, we meet a grieving father, whose life has been turned upside down by the loss of his young daughter. This man, burdened by the chaos of his failing marriage, is driven by the need to unearth the truth regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death. On the other side, we encounter a dedicated homicide detective, whose personal life is equally tumultuous, as he navigates the challenges of raising his own troubled adult daughter— a young woman entangled in substance abuse, who bounces from one relationship to another, leading a chaotic lifestyle that is hinted at yet not explicitly revealed.
As the plot unfolds, the father becomes increasingly fixated on discovering the genetic roots of his daughter’s illness, puzzled by the absence of any related family history among her adoptive parents. His own investigative journey uncovers a disturbing parallel—a haunting case from 1974, which not only shares similarities with his daughter’s condition but also involves the untimely death of another young girl, whose demise intertwines with deeper mysteries.
The story intricately weaves together the past and present, showing how both men— the grieving father and the relentless detective— embark on their respective quests for truth. Their investigations into the decades-old case lead them down a path that reveals dark secrets, unveiling the tragic suicide of the baby girl and her mother, giving rise to unsettling connections to the deceased man at the center of a web of mystery and questions that might also lead back to the father’s late daughter.
Throughout this harrowing journey, we witness the detective’s relentless pursuit as he unravels the enigma surrounding the once-notorious felon. The tension mounts, culminating in a heart-stopping climax where the confrontation between the detective and the elusive killer leaves audiences at the edge of their seats, questioning the fragility of life and the lengths to which love will go to find closure and justice. Thus, the film transcends mere storytelling, delivering a poignant exploration of loss, secrets, and the relentless human spirit in the face of adversity.
Last Updated: December 31, 2024 at 18:09
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