'Lamb' Review: Noomi Has A Little Lamb Whose Fleece Is Not White As Snow In The Horror-Fantasy From Writer-Director Valdimar Jóhannsson

Arlington TX

07 October, 2021

7:04 PM

Description

By Joe Friar, Fort Worth Report October 7, 2021 From the land of the Icelandic queen Björk, comes the feature debut from writer-director Valdimar Jóhannsson, a horror-tinged fantasy that feels closer to H.G. Wells and Henry Selick over David Cronenberg. "Lamb" is ultimately a tale of loss, drenched in folklore, driven by the need to continue as a species with memorable performances by Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snær Guðnason, and especially Björn Hlynur Haraldsson. A rousing debut, fresh from its US premiere at Fantastic Fest 2021, and one of the best films of the year. Ingvar (Guðnason) and Maria (Rapace) lead a quiet life on a rural farm in the scenic Nordic countryside. They tend to the sheep, do chores, and work the land. The married couple seems emotionless, caught in the monotony of everyday life. Their border collie named Dog (played by Panda) has more human qualities than they do, displaying a variety of emotions by just her facial expressions. "Lamb" marks Panda's final performance (she passed away in March), though not her first. She also appeared in 2020's "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" starring Will Ferrell. Rest in peace. A scene at a cemetery on the couple's farm confirms that Ingvar and Maria are grieving. It explains their solitude in the mornings and evenings without the distractions of running the farm. They are still very much in love, which comes through in the film even before they become attached to a newborn lamb, they name Ada. At first, Ada, swaddled in a blanket and bottle-fed, is carried by Maria like a human baby. She takes her attachment to the next level by letting Ada sleep in the bed with her and Ingvar. Eventually, they break out the old baby crib letting Ada sleep in the room with them. This doesn't sit well with the mother sheep who consistently stands outside the couple's bedroom window. You don't have to be a sheep whisperer to figure out that she wants her newborn back. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.