Last night I had the good fortune to visit a friend’s house for dinner. He and his father (and his entire family for that matter) are musical people – they play, record, and listen to great music. We were watching a Pink Martini concert for public television, and it was great! Lots of instrumentation and a beautiful voice. After we finished watching it, and oooh-ing and ahhh-ing over the singer who sings in several different languages with a super sultry voice, my friend’s father mentioned that he had Heima, a documentary about several concerts performed by Sigur Ros in their native Iceland. Heima, in Icelandic, means “at home.”
Over the past few years, I’ve become really interested in Iceland. I love the landscape, the animals, the ever-changing weather, and even the Icelandic sweaters. I would absolutely love to visit some day (hopefully sooner rather than later). And, I plan to knit an Icelandic sweater, as soon as I find a great pattern and buy some lopi, which is fine wool from Icelandic sheep. Hopefully it will get cold enough in Mississippi to wear it!
The documentary follows the band as they play in several different spots in Iceland, including small towns and interesting locations. The photography is breathtaking, and the band is soft spoken and humble, both qualities that are hard to find in many musicians. My favorite by far was the show in an old fish processing factory. Interspersed with old film of the factory in its heyday, the show was ambient and magical. It gave life back into this old factory, which had been part of so many people’s lives, and the entire scene just made me ache for places in my own life that had decayed. Places that hold so many beautiful memories, but haunt my heart. Watch it. I can still hear the violins.
alta billie 