‘Godland’ is a drama that follows Lucas, a young Danish priest sent on a mission to a remote part of Iceland to build a church and introduce Christianity. Taking place at the end of the 19th century, the priest elects to traverse the unforgiving land to learn of its nature and people, taking photographs along the way. Lucas’ journey turns into a test of the man’s mission, character and morality.
Set on the backdrop of a mesmerizing slew of magnificent landscapes, ‘Godland’ whisks the viewer away not only to a surreal land, but to a different time. Choosing to cross the land on foot to come to know and understand it, Lucas (Elliott Crosset) takes on a monumental task, perhaps not appreciating the threat that Iceland presents. Making swift and somewhat brash decisions, Lucas puts the group he is travelling with at risk, suffering serious casualties along the way.
Having lost his interpreter (Hilmar Guðjónsson), Lucas recedes, becomes disconnected and begins to lose sight of the aim of his journey. With his faith further tested, the severe weather conditions leave him exhausted, resulting in a near death experience. Crosset’s journey tests the man’s faith in his work and proves to be too taxing. After being taken in by a fellow Dane, Carl, Crosset further cements the characters ability to be petty and resentful, as the Icelander to have guided him across the land and to have saved his life (Ragnar played by Ingvar Sigurðsson), receives nothing but scorn and dismissal from the priest.
Exploring themes of colonialism, the film illustrates the bleak reality of the missionary’s view of the inhabitants of the country. Perceiving them as little more than boorish louts, ‘Godland’ instills an unwavering resentment towards the priest and what he represents. Cementing Lucas’ unfounded hatred towards Ragnar, when asking for his picture to be taken by the priest, a scuffle breaks out and Lucas ends up taking his life. Moving on from the incident and expressing no remorse, Lucas’ character is made irredeemable, unholy.
Further testing the limits of the man’s faith and mission, once the church is constructed, Lucas’ first service is interrupted, resulting in him fleeing in shame. Chased down by Carl, Lucas is stabbed and left to die in the wilderness.
Sending a message of the brutal nature and climate of the land, Lucas’ demise further highlights the ferocity with which it is unfeasible and almost undoable for man to force himself to bend nature to his will. A further testament to the almost superfluous need for organized religion, ‘Godland’ finishes on a beautiful sentiment through young Ida (Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir) as she mourns Lucas, delivering a more spiritually mature sentiment through the young girl, eclipsing any of Lucas’ preceding attempts at establishing himself as a morally upstanding individual.
An exceptional installment in Hlynur Pálmason’s filmography, the director has delivered a stark meditation on spirituality, and the nature and arrogance of man. Delivered perfectly by Elliott Crosset, the young priest exhibits that which is most detestable in human nature, highlighting that the strength of one’s character is paramount when choosing to spread spirituality and moral messages.
Score: 4/4
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