Union of the North
Barbarous nuptials in an Icelandic shopping centre. Written by the world-renowned contemporary artist Matthew Barney, this is performative video of disturbing brutality.
The Sumerian goddess of creation Nammu is now a waitress at a Dunkin’ Donuts in a shopping centre in Reykjavík, getting ready to celebrate the sacred union of two lovers. In the frozen food aisle: harsh fluorescent lighting, orangey uniforms, Homeric chants, tribal dances. In this art movie full of disturbing brutality, the celebration of the marriage will be grandiose.
Written by the world-renowned contemporary artist Matthew Barney and directed by the choreographer Erna Ómarsdóttir and the musician Valdimar Jóhannsson, Union of the North is radically removed from the Icelandic cliché of the great outdoors, embracing an air-conditioned, consumerist modernity. Performed by Iceland Dance Company, the film unfolds at times like a majestic opera, at times like a strident reality TV show. The scenes pack a punch, striking through the cerebral cortex: rites of passage full of noise and fury, violent sacrificial cults. A blood-soaked, frenetic wedding, between the sublime and the trivial. A sacred union.
Produced by Iceland Dance Company
Directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson + Erna Ómarsdóttir
Script and lyrics Matthew Barney
Choreographed by Erna Ómarsdóttir in collaboration with the performers
Performed by Þyrí Huld Árnadóttir + Hannes Þór Egilsson + Friðgeir Einarsson + Lovísa Ósk Gunnarsdóttir + Aðalheiður Halldórsdóttir + Sofia Jernberg + Dóra Jóhannsdóttir + Valdimar Jóhannsson + Raven Laxdal + Ásgeir Helgi Magnússon + Erna Ómarsdóttir + Hjördís Lilja Örnólfsdóttir + Elín Signý Weywadt Ragnarsdóttir + Inga Maren Rúnarsdóttir + Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson + Anna Guðrún Tómasdóttir + Halla Þórðardóttir
Music Valdimar Jóhannsson + Sofia Jernberg
Text Friðgeir Einarsson
Director of Photography Tómas Örn Tómasson
Editor Frosti Jón Runólfsson
Set Design Guðni Rúnar Gunnarsson + Ari Birgir Ágústsson
Costume Design Rebekka Jónsdóttir + Hrafnhildur Hólmgeirsdóttir
Hair and Make-up Harpa Finnsdóttir
Sound Recording Agnar Friðbertsson + Ari Rannveigarson
Camera Anní Ólafsdóttir, Frosti Jón Runólfsson + Viktor Orri Andersen
Giant donut Design Matthew Barney
Assistant Director Anna Gunndís Guðmundsdóttir
Assistant Cameraman Victor Bogdanski
Assistant Set Design Vilhjálmur Pétursson
Assistant Costume Design Kolbrún Sigurðardóttir
Assistant Hair and Make-up Kamilla Kristín Auðunsdótti
Production and Co-ordination Heba Eir Kjeld + Hulda Helgadóttir + Kata Ingva + Bjarni Jónsson + Ragnheiður Skúladóttir
Customers at the mall Hekla Elísabet Aðalsteinsdóttir + Elísa Lind Finnbogadóttir + Anita Ísey Jónsdóttir + Bjarni Jónsson + Kristín Manúelsdóttir + Erla Rut Mathiesen + Sigurður Andrean Sigurgeirsson
Kids on bikes Baldur Björn Arnarsson + Katrín Eir Ásgeirsdóttir + Arna Geirsdóttir + Freyja Geirsdóttir + Anna Kolbrún Ísaksdóttir + Brynjar Óli Ísaksson + Geir Örn Jacobsen + Elísabet María Jónsdóttir Kjeld + Hekla Kristleifsdóttir + Vaka Tómasdóttir +Valgerður Gríma Sigurjónsdóttir + Elmar Sölvi Steinarsson
Co-produced by Spring Festival (Utrecht) + Kunstcentrum BUDA (Kortrijk) + tanzhaus nrw (Düsseldorf) + Reykjavík Dance Festival
With the support of Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture + Kulturkontakt Nord – Nordic Culture Fund (Helsinki) + City of Reykjavík + Shalala (Reykjavík) in co-operation with Reykjavík City Theatre + LÓKAL Performing Arts Reykjavík
Presented in association with Festival du nouveau cinéma + Cinémathèque québécoise
Written by Diane Jean
Translated by Neil Kroetsch
Matthew Barney (Reykjavík + New York)
Iceland Dance Company
One of the most celebrated visual artists of his generation and the recipient of several international awards, Matthew Barney is an artist who works in sculpture, performance art, drawing and film.
Valdimar Jóhannsson (Reykjavík + New York)
Iceland Dance Company
Initially a sound engineer and then a composer and a musician, Valdimar Jóhannsson is a lighting designer, performer, dancer and filmmaker, according to his desires and the projects he is working on.
Erna Ómarsdóttir (Reykjavík + New York)
Iceland Dance Company
The choreographer and dancer Erna Ómarsdóttir is known as a performer for leading choreographers such as Jan Fabre, les ballets C de la B and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
