The most interesting thing about the film -- apart from two smashing performances from Vilhjálmsdottir and Egilsdóttir -- is the glimpse it provides into 1950s Iceland.
Comment
05/02/04
The Seagull's Laughter (2001)
84
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:32
Fresh:27
Rotten:5
Average Rating:6.7/10
Consensus: Though uneven in spots, this delightful comedy will, nevertheless, put a smile on your face.
Theatrical Release:Feb 13, 2004 Limited
Synopsis: In 1954, following the death of her American serviceman husband, beautiful Freya (Margaret Vilhjalmsdottir) returns to her native Icelandic fishing village. With several trunks of fashionable... [More]
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Reviews for The Seagull's Laughter
Lively and beautiful filmmaking.
08/13/04
Click to read the article
08/14/04
The film rollicks as a witty ensemble character study, but the ending, though cutely bildungsromanic, cannot help but disappoint a little as far as the unfulfilled promise of grand gains and Icelandic mythological magic.
02/13/04
An uncommonly engaging comedy with ripe tragic undertones.
05/07/04
Top CriticWriter-director Agust Gudmundsson skillfully balances romantic comedy and melodrama with a coming-of-age story and morality play.
05/06/04
Top CriticSolid acting and an intriguing plot compensate for some dull spots.
02/12/04
An awkwardly told story steeped in attitudes toward stereotypes with an annoying portrayal of a little girl's obsessed dedication to betray trust and affection.
03/18/04
Part character study, part thriller and part coming-of-age drama, it doesn't quite pull these disparate elements completely together but is nonetheless entertaining and darkly funny.
03/11/04
The performances are solid, and the film is just different enough to please open-minded audiences.
10/15/04
The film captures the quaintness of provincial life with humor and drama, deftly mixing in feminism, too, in a way that is subtly funny and even a little disturbing.
11/27/04
Agga emerges as an endearing ingenue with enough personality to carry the film through its set-pieces.
02/17/04
Gudmundsson is ultimately unsuccessful in tying the various plot elements and stylistic devices together, but The Seagull's Laughter manages to be quite entertaining anyway.
02/26/04
Scenically beautiful, rhythmically uneven comedy.
03/18/04
Vilhjálmsdóttir is a superb femme fatale … Freya eventually becomes a symbol of empowerment and impending change, a symbol that transcends good and evil.
06/04/04
As long as Egilsdóttir is on screen, the film is a small but satisfying delight.
05/27/04
The cast is a sparkling ensemble, with Vilhjálmsdóttir adept at keeping us guessing about the mercurial and complex Freya's true nature.
03/18/04
Top CriticSome scenes drag, but Seagull's Laughter is still delightful.
06/18/04
A droll script and generally deft direction make the Icelandic chill surprisingly inviting.
02/13/04
Seagulls is easy to take, insightful and darkly funny.
02/13/04
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