Iceland is a nation with a 240,000 population and little support for film production, yet no less than eight local features were premièred last year. By the same token, German output , for example, should reach an annual 2,500 full-length productions. Traditionally, cinema has been a magic attraction on the island, although it no longer boasts the 11.2 per capita per annum attendance, and the record number of 110,000 admissions for a domestic film is history.

Agnes producer Snorri Thorisson has been part of Icelandic Film since the very beginning in 1979, when he was director of photography on Hrafn Gunnlaugsson's Odal fedranna (My Father's Estate).

Developing Saga Film into the country's leading facility house, he established Pegasus Pictures in 1992, to service such films as Judge Dredd and Kjartan's Tale.

Screening today in the Rack - Iceland sidebar, co-written, photographed and produced by Thorisson, Agnes is the company's first feature, directed by Egill Edvardsson (Husid/The House). Set in 19th century Iceland, starring Maria Ellingsen and Baltasar Kormákur, the film is based on the real-life love story between a servant, Agnes, and a doctor, Natan, which eventually led to the last public execution in Iceland.

"As a boy I spent the summers at the farm where Agnes and Natan fought their battle. I was totally captivated by the thrilling story of passion and murder," said co-scriptwriter Jón Asgeir Hreinsson. "20 years later I wrote the screenplay."

Jørn Rossing Jensen

Prod co: Pegasus Film

Prod: Snorri Thorisson

Dir: Egill Edvardsson

Scr: Jon Asgeir Hreinsson, Snorri Thorisson

Ph: Snorri Thorisson

Ed: Steingrimur Karlsson

Prod des: Thor Vigfusson

Music: Gunnar Thordarson

Cast: Maria Ellingsen, Baltasar Kormakur, Egill Olafsson, Hilmir Snaer Gudnason

Running time: 104 mins

Int sales: Pinnacle Pictures

Screenings: 23 June, 17.30, Lucerna; 26 June, 20.00, Kveten

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