18/01/2024 - The suspenseful and unnerving drama, sold internationally by LevelK, stars newcomer Ilmur María Arnarsdóttir in the leading role

Ilmur María Arnarsdóttir in Natatorium (© Bjartsýn Films)

Helena Stefánsdóttir’s debut feature, Natatorium [+see also:
film review
film profile], will world premiere in the Bright Future section of the upcoming International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 January-4 February).

The unnerving 106-minute drama, penned by the helmer herself, follows 18-year-old Lilja (played by newcomer Ilmur María Arnarsdóttir), who visits Áróra (Elin Petersdottir, recently seen as Helka in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) and Grímur, her estranged grandparents, in the city as she undergoes auditions for an international art performance group. When her father Magnús and his younger sister Vala (Stefania Berndsen, from Hlynur Pálmason’s A White, White Day [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hlynur Pálmason
film profile]), two of Áróra and Grimur's four children, find out about Lilja’s stay in the family house, a sense of panic ensues. When the family gathers in the home to celebrate Lilja’s acceptance into the art group, a dark secret emerges, and soon, a seemingly normal family celebration turns into a horrifying tragedy that nobody could have foreseen.

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The technical crew includes DoP Kerttu Hakkarainen, editor Jussi Rautaniemi, sound editor Björn Viktorsson and composer Jacob Groth. Other main cast members are Valur Freyr Einarsson, Jónas Alfreð Birkisson, Stormur Jón Kormákur Baltarsarsson, Kristín Pétursdóttir, Ylfa Burgess, Ásgeir Margeirsson and Salka Ýr Ómarsdóttir.

Natatorium was produced by Sunna Guðnadóttir for Bjartsýn Films, and co-produced by Julia Elomäki for Tekele Productions (Finland) and Heather Millard for Silver Screen (Iceland), with backing from the Icelandic Film Centre, the Finnish Film Foundation, RÚV, YLE, SVT and Sena. Miia Haavisto, Tia Talli, Arnar Steinn Friðbjörrnsson, Tintin Scheynius, Nima Yousefi and Tine Klint served as the project’s executive producers.

Denmark’s LevelK is selling the picture worldwide. Sena will distribute it in Icelandic theatres in March.