i suspect this film was selected for it's known elements
a rural tale of 2 farmers protecting their flocks in winter
it could of course easily be set in nz but not so - iceland
which adds to the appeal as that country does need a visit
an elderly farmer seen checking the fencing on his property
spots a dead sheep over the fence and tentatively climbs over
examines it and then picks up the large distressed lamb next to it
opens a door of a house, drops the lamb, closes the door and walks off
a man emerges and is pointed to the dead sheep with no words exchanged
we then see the same 2 men facing off in a competition for best sheep
each watching as their prize animal is thoroughly inspected by the judge
in the ceremony gummi (the rescuer) places second to kiddi (the rescuee)
brothers but no talk-ee and revealed it has been 40 years since speaking
gummi has a concern and does a secretive inspection of kiddi's ram
and then in conversation with the local lady vet he suggests scrapie
a fearful and contagious virus that attacks sheeps brains and spine
brother kiddi seen in a rage when he finds out what has happened
screaming that gummi is simply jealous at missing out on the prize
but the virus is confirmed and all the farmers now face a mass cull
it's all quite interesting and the brother's story also seems plausible
a tale of men's stubbornness left unchecked without female intervention
and a clear parallel with the film's title representing man and/or animal
but mostly the film is about the 2 brothers and their clear differences
kiddi hits the bottle and refuses to accept his flock need to be killed
gummi is ordered, accepts the decision and does the deed himself
this despite the authorities doing the rounds to cull all the sheep
but there's an ulterior motive - a few ewes and rams are spared
gummi has them in the basement and tends to them in secret
so the suspense is ramped up with this bit of skullduggery
part of the fumigation process requires destroying sheds, etc
one official seen sitting on gummi's toilet and hearing a noise
cats gummi explains with a rare bit of humour in this bleak film
kiddi hits the bottle again and in turn abuse his younger brother
then promptly passes out in the snow requiring a bit of sympathy
gummi using a front-end loader to deposit him outside the hospital
all kind of fun really mixed in with the bleakness of the film's setting
wondering how this going to pan out but reconciliation is suspected
finally gummi is busted with an official charging off to get assistance
he in turn knocking on his brother's door to arrange a hiding place
kiddi more than happy - the flock is the last of a special breed
so the love of the animals overrides brotherly rivalry (ooh-aah)
between them they decide to hide the sheep in the mountains
a flock, a sheep-dog and 2 old men on a quad-bike head off
a blizzard sets in, the bike breaks down, the men are separated
kiddi desparately looking for his bro finds him unconscious
he digs a snow cave, strips their clothing and embraces him
the final scene sees him in tears willing gummi to wake up
yikes - a big turnaround from a few scenes back - but ok
kind of heart-warming really and a lot to like about this film
all sorts of messages about families, simple lives, animals, etc
but mostly it's a good old yarn requiring little effort to follow
fine with me - and good to make a return trip to iceland...
