Hrútar / Rams

Gummi and Kiddi are as stubborn as their sheep. The two brothers have not spoken for more than 40 years. They live in the same isolated Icelandic valley and share a professional passion for farming sheep. Originating from the same genetic pool, their herds are among the best in the country. The annual sheep-farming contest has returned and the two brothers once again compete against each other. The malicious pleasure Kiddi takes in his victory is short lived; one of his sheep has fallen victim to the deadly scrapie disease. The number of infected sheep steadily increases, until the vet has no alternative but to order the emergency slaughter of every sheep in the region, much to the relief of all except Gummi and Kiddi. The two pigheaded brothers refuse to be told what to do by anybody, and do everything they can to save their flocks and themselves from destruction. Filmmaker Grímur Hákonarson zeros in on the archaic world of Icelandic sheep farming with a subtle sense of Nordic humour and images of glorious scenery.