Beautiful Beings
Written and Directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
Starring Birgir Dagur Bjarkason, Áskell Einar Pálmason, Viktor Benóný Benediktsson
Unrated
Runtime: 2 hours, 3 minutes
In select theaters now

by E.L. King, Contributor

Writer and director Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson’s blend of cosmic fever dream and violent reality, Beautiful Beings follows the turbulent path of Iceland’s delinquent and somewhat disaffected youth. While the pacing is aimlessly languid, the film’s emotional, authentic, and compelling story of love and companionship amidst society’s dark edges is captivating. It stars Birgir Dagur Bjarkason, Áskell Einar Pálmason, Viktor Benóný Benediktsson, and Snorri Rafn Frímannsson. The film is the feature and acting debut for several of the young leads and is Iceland’s Oscars entry.

Our central protagonist, Addi (Bjarkason), is a boy with a clairvoyant mother, who shares her ability to “sense” things. When a special about Iceland’s violent youth airs on television featuring an interview with the beaten and bullied Balli (Pálmason), Addi decides to adopt the misfit into his gang of friends and outsiders. The boys explore aggression and violence but also learn about loyalty and love. As the group’s behavior escalates towards life-threatening situations, Addi experiences cosmic visions warning of the dangers their violent path presents as Konni (Benediktsson) continues to push boundaries and Siggi (Frímannsson), the hapless bystander, is dragged along.

Konni is the gang's leader and enforcer. He’s quick to lash out, fiercely protective of his friends, and projects both an inner rage and anguish due to his abusive father. Addi is the gang’s conscience. He’s gentle and empathetic. When Addi takes Balli under his wing, the other boys question him and his motives, but begrudgingly accept Balli into the group. It’s unclear why Addi is adamant that they befriend Balli, but the strange boy from the “bum house” becomes a catalyst for further violence including sexual abuse and assault. 

Guðmundsson’s narrative has thinly veiled queer undertones, specifically the relationship between Konni and Addi. A beautiful moment between them depicts Addi holding Konni and caressing his golden curls as the sun sets. It’s clear they share a fierce love and loyalty that hints at unspoken and complex feelings for each other, but it’s never explored. Despite their bond, their breaking point is the continued violence that Konni frequently instigates, leading them to dire consequences they can’t easily escape. Bjarkason and Benediktsson each deliver convincing performances as the pained teens whose paths begin to diverge with young adulthood.

Beautiful Beings is a brutal and tender depiction of growing up that’s advanced by Sturla Brandth Grøvlen’s captivating cinematography, rich with texture and color. Konni, Addi, Balli, and Siggi face bullying, abuse, neglect, sexual assault, and violence. The weight of the world is frequently on their shoulders and they feel it, making Guðmundsson’s darker plot points acutely painful to witness.