A beautiful reminder of the challenges ahead

“Of Time and the Water” offers an uncomfortable reminder of the unavoidable challenges ahead. The documentary draws on the family film archive of writer Andri Snær Magnason, bringing together intimate images of his family and the Icelandic landscape.

Much of the film takes place in the past, giving it the feel of a historical movie. Some of the footage is decades old, including exceptionally beautiful images of Icelandic glaciers filmed by Magnason’s grandfather, Árni Kjartansson, with a 16mm camera.

Viewers meet Magnason as a child and follow him until his own children are nearing their teenage years. At one point, he takes over the role of filmmaker, setting up the camera in front of family members young and old.

The result creates the feeling that life is passing far too quickly. The film watches not only the family’s changes, but also the changes in nature, especially in Iceland’s glaciers. Morgunblaðið’s critic awarded it four and a half stars and described it as a beautiful film that no one should miss.