Hlynur is approaching the age of 30. He still lives with his mother, watches porn, wanders around Reykjavík searching for a job, and spends lots of time in a central Reykjavík bar.
Hlynur’s world is going along rather ignorant of the duties and rewards involved with engaging in life. Until his mother invites to stay at the house for Christmas her flamenco teacher Lola, a seductive and unpretentious Spanish lady…On New Years eve, while the mother is away, Hylnur finds out Lola is a lesbian, but also ends up having drunken sex with her. On her return, the mother informs her son that she is also a lesbian and that her and Lola are in love. Hlynur is of course jealous of their relationship, but being also a dutiful son, he wants to accept his mother’s sexual life and be happy for her.
Hlynur’s fantasy life becomes more alive, glimpses of his subconscious show his dreams and nightmares. He slowly comes to terms with his mother’s love for Lola. The announcement that Lola is pregnant makes living together impossible for all three, but eventually, Hlynur begins to see life little differently…
Baltasar Kormákur (born 27 February 1966) is an Icelandic actor, theater and film director, and film producer. He is best known for directing the films 101 Reykjavík, Hafið, A Little Trip to Heaven (starring Julia Stiles and Forest Whitaker), and a film based on the book Mýrin (Jar City) by Arnaldur Indriðason.
With his movie Mýrin he won the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2007. –Wikipedia
Not as melancholic as was expected,in fact it highlights social issues with humor. But it is not a comedy and the family relationships are realistic.
101 Reykjavik, based on Hallgrimur Helgason’s novel, is a piquant, picaresque and ironic look at Iceland’s welfare state society at the turn of the 21st century.
Hlynur (Hilmir Snaer Gudnason… read review