Heartstone: Un été islandais

The movie is about two friends, boys, they live in Iceland . The small boy is interested in girls, while the Blond one is Gay and is attracted to his friend. The blond boy trys to get close sexually to his friend ,who pushes his attamps away. I like the view of the sea, and the Characters

This is an amazing film. The two main actors were excellent. They showed the bizarre combination of deeply repressed feelings punctuated with quick outbursts of emotion that is so typical of boys that age. The narrative was so deeply nuanced and layered that it was very gripping. It's a thinking and feeling film, not an action movie. But it's extraordinarily compelling.

The initial impression was not very good. Made me uneasy to watch. Because there were some inhumane shots. They all looked so real. So I thought I would going to hate this film. But I did not. It was only in the opening, like a small black spot in something beautiful. Soon the scenario had changed. Jumped into tail two friends, their activities. That's understandable to show us their bond and what to expect in the latter parts. This is a children's film, but teenager's. So like at their age, it's desperate to learn about the opposite sex attraction. Most of the time it won't be pleasant. The teens have their own way to explore it. So the film was focused on their take on the sexuality. Come-of-age theme where the majority revolved around friendship. Definitely a good awareness film, but very intentional storytelling. Especially the twist and the conclusion. For me it was intentional, because I've seen plenty of similar films. But I don't think you and others would think that way as well. Kind of easy to guess how it all turns out at the end, but when you see them in pictures, the experience is different. In a small remote town of Iceland, it's about a time for two teen friends to find out their sexuality. Their families have issues, but nothing stopping them to wandering around everyday, hanging out with the girls, doing stuff like anyone of their age would do. When one of their small mischievous events is taken seriously by their parents, the things begin to change forth. They are not same anymore. The long standing friendship is tested now. But how the story ends was conveniently told. -xX] No makeup! We look gay enough already. [Xx- This is a gay themed film, though not right from the beginning or too deeply dived to narrate the tale from that angle. But like usual, it highlighted how still in some places the word gay is still a sin. All you can learn about it from the kid's perspective, how they are sidelined among their ages. You could say that they were yet to learn the meaning of it, but the case is not the same with their elders too. Not focused enough on the adult characters, yet the film reveals their society is not open enough for all kinds. I have seen a lot such awareness film about LGBT, this is another that tells about the Iceland's version of discrimination. Totally respect the film and filmmaking, because it's made with a good intention. Though like I have mentioned, the opening was not pleasant. Opened with a brutal tone which did not stay that way henceforth. Being an animal and a nature lover, I could not stand for it. Other than that, there's no reason to dislike the flick. In some way, that was a step taken in the transformation of the characters. That's what it's all about, the meaning of coming-of-age, is not it! Well, for a such theme, the actors usually are fresh faces. So they all performance so good. It was a directional debut for the filmmaker as well. Awesomely written and made. Won many film festivel awards. I particularly loved the countryside scenic. Just same as what I've seen from the Kiwi films that set in the rural areas. As much as they focused on the story, it had very pleasant backgrounds that synced so beautifully with what it had narrated for us. It had been in my watchlist. We put films into that list when something interesting element triggers. So now I'm happy to scratch it off. Mission accomplished! It surely stood to the expectation and so do I now recommend it for others as well. 7/10

I think the defining characteristic of this work is the realism of the interaction between the kids, the subtle signs that neither them nor us can fully decipher. Furtive looks, lost stares, quick touches, silences awaiting for a sign of clarification, inexplicable jealousy, sudden rage or desperation, sense of infinite powerlessness... The plot might be clear and obvious, as others have noted, but these kids don't march through their destiny, they grope in the dark. They are mostly silent, yet their actions and gestures speak volumes. The director doesn't put our truths in their mouths. Yet everyone watching can re-live the kids' feelings as their own: the ambiguity produces a self-identification so complete as to be excruciating like a transmutation. It's hard to explain how catarthic and exhausting it was to watch this film. Towards the end, at every scene the director kept hammering me. The final scene is open-ended, but tells us that there is a future and life goes on. Only the adults are explicit signs of what the kids fear and cannot name: oldness and loneliness, rejection of the foreigner, violence against the different, selfish exploitation of the other. Some words too much are spoken, some others do not manage to get out, screams emerge. Only the artist sister has the courage and the good sense to say aloud the truth. But in the end, even the "ugliest" and rejected fish finds its waters to live again.

I loved the movie. It was incredible, the actings were great! I've watched it two times so far already. I'll buy it's dvd/bluray and watch it many more times. Very natural and realistic movie.. Unique! 👌🏼

This movie is very deep, its not an action film. Its a film that takes you on a trip of understanding. Its explains what it is to be different, what it is not to be accepted for what you are, or for you to expect not to be accepted, it shows a lot of hurt and pain. Also happiness and joy. The fact that it is staged in simple surroundings makes it easier to get the message across, its quite easy to understand. This is a film that will leave you a better person after, if you watch it without prejudice. I can not understand how people can relate this film to sex, I find that rather disturbing, and it isn't really that shallow, although you might be able to find people that are and I really hope for their own sake that that is the reason. The man without a face was a film that did something similar, but from a different angle. I think this film is a masterpiece.

In 2016, an Icelandic film Hjartasteinn or Heartstone, was released in Toronto International Film Festival about two young male best friends exploring their youths and the unexplainable feeling that goes along with it. That same year, Closet Monster, Moonlight, Being 17 are some of the most notable gay films, bagging most of critics' and publics' attention. But Hjartasteinn is a tear jerker. Its perfection and captivating in so many level. This film was shot on Earth's literal heaven - Iceland. And there's something about how it was shot, that you just can't take your eyes out. It shows the breathtaking landscapes of the small village in Iceland while contrasting the ugly truth of human inclination towards same sex attraction, that is implicitly present in their village. Every pan and angle of the camera showcases heavenly world that sets a backdrop to a sad, culturally-tethered reality that is beautiful and tragic at the same time. What made the film so engaging and resonating in everyone's emotion is how it captured a sense of societal pressure in becoming who you are or expressing what you feel, either you're in Israel, or America, or in Iceland. The painful gaze that the world will inflict to you for having young homosexual attractions and the guilt of falling in love with your best friend, is enough to make you hurt yourself and drown your emotions for life. And this movie envelops that. Whether you watch this film as an adult or as a teenager, it still melts your heart away, and pulls you back in time where your heart was still young, and throbbing, in the most genuine way. As a child, I for one experience quite a similar case, not close but the idea of young, unrequited, untold secrets, sneaking out, belonging, relationships, and heartaches, are enough to unlock them back. This movie simply makes you wanna go to ICELAND even more. Experiencing a puppy love or not in your teenage lives, this movie speaks for you. It has cold atmosphere allegorizing the seen and unseen realities within the village, its truthful, it's painful, and it's easily loveable. Thor and Christians' friendship is cute and very relatable to the level where it aches you.