Brynhildur Gudjónsdóttir is Vilborg in Our Own Oslo.
Reynir Lyngdal’s debut feature Our Own Oslo (Okkar eigin Osló) premiered in Iceland on March 4th and has remained in the top spot since, with audiences reaching around 11.000 as of today. The comedy, starring Thorsteinn Gudmundsson (also screenwriter) and Brynhildur Gudjonsdóttir, has enjoyed generally favourable response from critics. Story depicts two polar opposites, dour engineer Haraldur and wacky bank employee Vilborg, trying to establish a relationship, with various people and events conspiring to prevent it from happening.
Excerpts from reviews:
Hjördís Stefánsdóttir at Morgunbladid newspaper:
“The film doesn’t make fun at its characters even though they constantly find themselves in very embarrassing situations. It’s a tale sweetly told and audiences should be able to sympathise with the characters, who are all lead by the common human longing for a better life, love and happiness. The characters are not only very convincing but also very well performed, with the actors obviously giving it all they’ve got.”
Thorarinn Thorarinsson at Fréttatíminn weekly writes:
“The wonderful cast of characters really shines, with the very amusing script by Gudmundsson driven by smart dialogue and embarrassing situations and hardly a dull moment in sight… Director lyngdal has a field day, delivering with sensitivity and great comic timing the funniest Icelandic comedy for years.”
Roald Eyvindsson at Fréttabladid daily finds fault with the character of Vilborg, calls her “unconvincing”:
“The script is faulty in some ways and the narrative doesn’t build. The two main characters lack chemistry which is a shame as that should be the film’s driving force… The well written and funny dialogue saves a lot and the cast does well. The film is a testimony to director Lyngdal talents. An okay comedy but suffers due to an uneven narrative.”
