Rotten Tomatoes Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Against the Current

Play trailer 1:55 Poster for Against the Current 2021 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 10 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
How far do you have to travel to find yourself? And what sacrifices are you willing to make to get there? Veiga Grétarsdóttir is the first person in the world to attempt to kayak over 2,000 kilometers around Iceland, counter-clockwise and "against the current." This achievement has been said to be comparable to climbing the mountain K2. Veiga's personal journey is no less remarkable. She was born 44 years ago as a boy in a fishing village on the far west coast of Iceland. Veigar had a wife and family but decided that she could no longer live as a man, and at the age of 38, decided to undergo gender reassignment. The inner struggle for Veigar to become Veiga was a journey as difficult if not more so than the solo kayak expedition she undertakes. These two stories of conflict and struggle are intertwined as the film follows her amazing 103 day journey around Iceland, with the magical, rugged coastline of the country a backdrop to the story of Veiga's transition.

Where to Watch

Against the Current

Critics Reviews

View More
Michael Ordoña Los Angeles Times 06/24/2021
"Against the Current" is a gem. It's gorgeous in many ways. Go to Full Review Kristen Yoonsoo Kim New York Times 06/24/2021
"Against the Current" feels cliché even with an intriguing subject. Go to Full Review Diego Semerene Slant Magazine 06/22/2021
2/4
Against the Current's style imposes a generic visual language onto a subject who's anything but generic. Go to Full Review Jose Solís Common Sense Media 04/30/2025
As a proud member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (also known as UmonHon), she takes viewers into the heart of her community with Against the Current, which she filmed and directed. Go to Full Review Olivia Popp Vague Visages 02/16/2022
Sveinsson's "Against the Current" defines itself as an idiosyncratic, deeply personal character study of a remarkable woman, who the world eagerly waits upon to see what she accomplishes next. Go to Full Review Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue 01/28/2022
...doesn't always fit together seamlessly, but the result is a powerful look and transformation and acceptance, along with an impressive feat of physical endurance. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Against the Current

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Óskar Páll Sveinsson

Director

Óskar Páll Sveinsson

Director

Veiga Grétarsdóttir

Actor

Petur Einarsson

Producer

Kristín Ólafsdóttir

Producer

Óskar Páll Sveinsson

Cinematographer

More Like This

View All
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible 92% 93% 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible Watchlist TRAILER for 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible Maidentrip 83% 78% Maidentrip Watchlist Echoes of the Invisible 83% % Echoes of the Invisible Watchlist The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari 83% 85% The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari Watchlist TRAILER for The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Against the Current

Against the Current: Trailer 1 Against the Current: Trailer 1 1:55 Now Playing View more videos
View All

Against the Current

Against the Current (2020) Against the Current (2020) Against the Current (2020) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis How far do you have to travel to find yourself? And what sacrifices are you willing to make to get there? Veiga Grétarsdóttir is the first person in the world to attempt to kayak over 2,000 kilometers around Iceland, counter-clockwise and "against the current." This achievement has been said to be comparable to climbing the mountain K2. Veiga's personal journey is no less remarkable. She was born 44 years ago as a boy in a fishing village on the far west coast of Iceland. Veigar had a wife and family but decided that she could no longer live as a man, and at the age of 38, decided to undergo gender reassignment. The inner struggle for Veigar to become Veiga was a journey as difficult if not more so than the solo kayak expedition she undertakes. These two stories of conflict and struggle are intertwined as the film follows her amazing 103 day journey around Iceland, with the magical, rugged coastline of the country a backdrop to the story of Veiga's transition.
Director
Óskar Páll Sveinsson, Óskar Páll Sveinsson
Producer
Petur Einarsson, Kristín Ólafsdóttir
Screenwriter
Margrét Örnólfsdóttir
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Production Co
P/E Productions, Klikk Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Icelandic
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 25, 2021, Limited
Runtime
1h 27m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings