The Love That Remains

Though in the throes of a separation, Anna (Saga Garðarsdottóttir; Woman at War, SFF 2018) and Magnus (Sverrir Gudnason, Borg vs. McEnroe) still spend time together for the sake of their three children, Ída and twins Þorgils and Grímur (played, remarkably, by the three real-life children of director Pálmason). Magnus works at sea, infrequently returning to land, where he asserts himself as the patriarch with limited efficacy. Artist Anna creates vast and impressive artworks that fail to receive suitable recognition. In their interactions, there is the familiarity of a long-held love and a glimmer of a chance of reconciliation, but also sufficient indication of why the split is happening. Beginning in a particular tone, the film takes radical and wonderful diversions into thrilling comedic and fantastical sequences. "Life is nothing but a fucking hassle, but the animals bring us joy," one character says. But Pálmason conveys so much love and emotion in this deeply felt film that there's a great deal of joy to be taken from spending time with these humans too.