Sparrows

When his mother leaves for Africa, 16-year-old Ari is sent from Reykjavik to live with his father in remote and rural Iceland. There, between towering mountains and breathtaking fjords, where alcohol is the common remedy for the deteriorating economy, the introvert boy has to navigate his difficult relationship with his father, the small community and his adolescent sexuality.

In his second feature film, Rúnar Rúnarsson (Volcano) portrays the unusual coming of age of a sensitive boy (Atli Óskar Fjalarsson in a captivating performance) in a suffocating town, and does so with exceptional precision and meticulous aesthetics. Sparrows won numerous awards, including Best Film in San Sebastián.