Book
Taking up the tradition of the Icelandic sagas, 'Fish Have No Feet' by Jon Kalman Stefansson, creates the portrait of three generations of one family. A raw portrait of this unique land, tracing the grandparents of Ari, the novel's protagonist, originally from the modest fishing village Norðfjörður, to their children, over a century.
Music
Less well-known than her compatriot Bjork, Emilíana Torrini is part of the Icelandic contemporary music scene. It is due to her third album, 'Love in the Time of Science' that she became internationally known. Her rhythmic pop and acoustic style attracts various artists with whom she collaborates, including Sting. Several of her songs have been used in big label advertisements and in film tracks, such as 'Lord of the Rings: Two Towers'.
Film
'Rams' by Grímur Hákonarson is a fictional drama set in rural Iceland, telling the poignant story of two estranged brothers, Gummi and Kiddi, who live side by side and share a passion for breeding hardy sheep adapted to Iceland’s wild landscapes. Despite not speaking to each other for decades, their rivalry is forced to shift when scrapie, a fatal sheep disease, threatens the valley’s flocks. The film captures both the harshness and beauty of Icelandic farming life, blending quiet humour with emotional depth.