He knew his time would come - and that time is now," says Icelandic director Hilmar Oddsson of his fellow countryman, composer Jón Leifs (1899-1968), whose turbulent life he depicts in his second feature, Tár úr steini (Tears of Stone), screening today in competition."

He is to Iceland what Grieg is to Norway or Sibelius to Finland, and his unbelievably dramatic life has all the elements of a Greek tragedy."

Awarded the Audience Prize at this year's Gothenburg International Film Festival, Tár úr steini follows the struggling, but promising composer's career in Nazi Germany.

For some time it was deadlocked by his marriage to a Jewish concert pianist, Annie Riethof, but as he joined the joined the politically correct Music Composers' Council, he conducted a comeback concert, which his wife was refused to attend.

As her parents die in Dachau, he realises that he has to get his family out of the country, and is helped by a German party executive on the condition that he gives a pro-Nazi radio address to Iceland, now occupied by British forces.

"Icelanders rejected him and his music until the late 1980s. Then they were ready to listen. And gradually his works have been gaining the recognition they deserve," Oddsson says.

Jørn Rossing Jensen

Prod co: Tónabio, with Idé Film (Sweden), Peter Rommel Filmproduktion (Germany), Icelandic Film Corporation, with support from the Icelandic Film Fund, the Nordic Film & TV Fund, Eurimages

Prod: Jóna Finnsdóttir

Dir: Hilmar Oddsson

Scr: Hilmar Oddsson, Hjálmar H Ragnarsson, Sveinbjörn I Baldvinsson

Ph: Sigurdur Sverrir Pálsson

Ed: Kerstin Eriksdottir

Set des: Sigurjón Jóhansson, Andreas Olshausen

Mus: Jón Leifs Cast: Thröstur Leó Gunnarsson, Ruth Olafsdóttir, Heinz Bennent

Running time: 114 mins

Int sales: Telepicture Marketing (London)

Screenings: 22 June, 12.00, Koncerní; 23 June, 20.00, Lucerna

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