Lamb (4 Stars)

This is the 21st film in the Stuttgart Fantasy Film Festival.

"Lamb" is a film that divided the audience. Some people loved it, some people hated it. It's a slow moving film with very little dialogue. The film's genre isn't well defined. Wikipedia calls it a supernatural horror film, but that's not quite accurate. There are fairy tale elements.

Ingvar and Maria are shepherds who keep their flock in a remote part of Iceland. The film begins with lambs being born. One lamb is born later than the others. Is it days or weeks later? It's impossible to tell, because time progresses as if in a dream. All we know is that it's the last lamb born in the season. For some reason, Ingvar and Maria love the lamb more than any of the others. They call her Ada, the same name as their daughter who died shortly after birth. Instead of leaving Ada in the barn with her mother, they take her into their house, letting her sleep in their bedroom. They treat Ada as a child, dressing her in children's clothing.

Ada's mother keeps standing outside the house, trying to get to her daughter. This annoys Maria so much that she kills the mother.

Ingvar's brother Petur visits the farm to stay for a few weeks. He's shocked by the way Ada is being treated. He thinks his brother is mad.

I greatly enjoyed the film. I might rate it higher next time I see it. The film is simply beautiful. Ingvar and Maria are a simple couple, happy with their hard work in the cold, barren land. The scenery is beautiful, and the director makes sure that there are many outdoor scenes. It's an intense film that has to be seen to be believed. I can understand the people who don't like it, but it's worth watching at least once. Give it a chance.