Ágúst Guðmundsson

Directing

Ágúst Guðmundsson

Born 1947-06-29 · Reykjavik, Iceland

Ágúst Guðmundsson (born 29 June 1947; Reykjavík) is an Icelandic film director and screenwriter. He studied French, Icelandic in Reykjavík and filmmaking at the National Film School in London. He has made many popular Icelandic films that have also been translated into other languages. His 1998 film The Dance was entered into the 21st Moscow International Film Festival where he won the Silver St. George for Best Director. He is currently director of BÍL, The Federation of Icelandic Artists.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Across the Interior of Iceland poster
NR

The film is about travelling on horseback across the Icelandic interior on the main route, which once connected the north of Iceland with the shout. This route was the scene of a tragic accident in the 18th century, when young farmers moving a flock of sheep to the North, perished in a snowstorm. For many years following the incident the track was not used, until the 19th century, when Captain Daniel Bruun from Denmark, accompanied by a photographer and a water-colour artist, crossed the difficult terrain, deep rivers, and rocky heights in sun, rain, fog and wind, marking the way with stones laboriously heaped into cairns.

Across the Interior of Iceland

1983

Golden Sands poster
8.0

A political comedy about the effects of the apparent discovery of gold in the sands near a small community on Iceland's south coast. Troops from the American NATO base "invade" the territory, journalists from Reykjavik arrive and the morals of the local inhabitants quickly turn topsy-turvy.

Golden Sands

1984

Golden Sands poster
8.0

A political comedy about the effects of the apparent discovery of gold in the sands near a small community on Iceland's south coast. Troops from the American NATO base "invade" the territory, journalists from Reykjavik arrive and the morals of the local inhabitants quickly turn topsy-turvy.

Golden Sands

1984

The Dance poster
6.2

Águst Guðmundsson directed this Icelandic period drama, adapted from the short story We Must Dance by William Heinesen, and set on an island in 1913. Pétur (Gunnar Helgason) narrates, recalling the days when mainlanders arrived for a wedding. Flirtatious Sirsa (Pálína Jónsdottir) marries Harald (Dofri Hermannsson), son of a wealthy landowner on the island. Offshore, a ship is sinking, so the men form a rescue party, returning with the captain, the engineer, and several sailors. With a storm gathering, the engineer dies. The clergyman requests an end to the festivities as a mark of respect. Sirsa protests, but her new husband brings the celebration to a halt. The group then fragments into different activities, drunken or otherwise, and the sensual Sirsa directs her attention toward the handsome Ívar (Baldur Trausti Hreinsson). The film's score features traditional folk music.

The Dance

1998

The Dance poster
6.2

Águst Guðmundsson directed this Icelandic period drama, adapted from the short story We Must Dance by William Heinesen, and set on an island in 1913. Pétur (Gunnar Helgason) narrates, recalling the days when mainlanders arrived for a wedding. Flirtatious Sirsa (Pálína Jónsdottir) marries Harald (Dofri Hermannsson), son of a wealthy landowner on the island. Offshore, a ship is sinking, so the men form a rescue party, returning with the captain, the engineer, and several sailors. With a storm gathering, the engineer dies. The clergyman requests an end to the festivities as a mark of respect. Sirsa protests, but her new husband brings the celebration to a halt. The group then fragments into different activities, drunken or otherwise, and the sensual Sirsa directs her attention toward the handsome Ívar (Baldur Trausti Hreinsson). The film's score features traditional folk music.

The Dance

1998

The Dance poster
6.2

Águst Guðmundsson directed this Icelandic period drama, adapted from the short story We Must Dance by William Heinesen, and set on an island in 1913. Pétur (Gunnar Helgason) narrates, recalling the days when mainlanders arrived for a wedding. Flirtatious Sirsa (Pálína Jónsdottir) marries Harald (Dofri Hermannsson), son of a wealthy landowner on the island. Offshore, a ship is sinking, so the men form a rescue party, returning with the captain, the engineer, and several sailors. With a storm gathering, the engineer dies. The clergyman requests an end to the festivities as a mark of respect. Sirsa protests, but her new husband brings the celebration to a halt. The group then fragments into different activities, drunken or otherwise, and the sensual Sirsa directs her attention toward the handsome Ívar (Baldur Trausti Hreinsson). The film's score features traditional folk music.

The Dance

1998

A Little Swelling poster
NR

A drama shot on location in Reykjavík which deals with the pregnancy of a 16 year old schoolgirl and the effect it has on her life. This is an unusual look at a classic situation through the eyes of the young mother-to-be. Humour heightens the refreshingly new treatment of the subject matter.

A Little Swelling

1980

A Little Swelling poster
NR

A drama shot on location in Reykjavík which deals with the pregnancy of a 16 year old schoolgirl and the effect it has on her life. This is an unusual look at a classic situation through the eyes of the young mother-to-be. Humour heightens the refreshingly new treatment of the subject matter.

A Little Swelling

1980

A Little Swelling poster
NR

A drama shot on location in Reykjavík which deals with the pregnancy of a 16 year old schoolgirl and the effect it has on her life. This is an unusual look at a classic situation through the eyes of the young mother-to-be. Humour heightens the refreshingly new treatment of the subject matter.

A Little Swelling

1980

No artwork available
NR

The story of Iceland’s oldest boys band, Studmenn, is truly remarkable and is told here from childhood till ripe old age.

Studmenn: The Story of a Band

2015

No artwork available
NR

The story of Iceland’s oldest boys band, Studmenn, is truly remarkable and is told here from childhood till ripe old age.

Studmenn: The Story of a Band

2015

Outlaw: The Saga of Gisli poster
5.4

Based on the saga of Gísli Súrsson, one of the Icelandic Sagas. The attempt of a family head in 10th century Iceland to strengthen the fragile bonds within the clan through blood brotherhood turns into the opposite through suspicion and resentment. When the law of blood revenge has to be fulfilled after a murder, a fateful chain reaction is set in motion.

Outlaw: The Saga of Gisli

1981

Outlaw: The Saga of Gisli poster
5.4

Based on the saga of Gísli Súrsson, one of the Icelandic Sagas. The attempt of a family head in 10th century Iceland to strengthen the fragile bonds within the clan through blood brotherhood turns into the opposite through suspicion and resentment. When the law of blood revenge has to be fulfilled after a murder, a fateful chain reaction is set in motion.

Outlaw: The Saga of Gisli

1981

Love in a Supermarket poster
NR

Albert works in the meat section of a convenience store who falls in love with a woman who frequents the store.

Love in a Supermarket

1986

Love in a Supermarket poster
NR

Albert works in the meat section of a convenience store who falls in love with a woman who frequents the store.

Love in a Supermarket

1986

Ahead of Time poster
5.8

More than twenty years after the premiere of one of the most beloved Icelandic films (On Top/Med allt a hreinu 1982) a sequel appears. A band which folded twenty years ago (they were even considered old-fashioned then) sees fit to stage a comeback. Indications point to a great future until the ghosts of the past catch up with the band in the form of a single mother and a jolly roadie. We follow the band not only through the magnificent Icelandic landscape but also through two continents and a brief spell in the other world.

Ahead of Time

2004

Ahead of Time poster
5.8

More than twenty years after the premiere of one of the most beloved Icelandic films (On Top/Med allt a hreinu 1982) a sequel appears. A band which folded twenty years ago (they were even considered old-fashioned then) sees fit to stage a comeback. Indications point to a great future until the ghosts of the past catch up with the band in the form of a single mother and a jolly roadie. We follow the band not only through the magnificent Icelandic landscape but also through two continents and a brief spell in the other world.

Ahead of Time

2004

A War time story poster
NR

Nonni, an 11 year old boy has to deal with the loss of his father who died in the second world war.

A War time story

1977

Man of the Stage poster
NR

Personal and elaborative documentary about Iceland's first real pop star, Bjorgvin Halldorsson.

Man of the Stage

2018

High Tide poster
NR

No plot found anywhere online.

High Tide

1981

High Tide poster
NR

No plot found anywhere online.

High Tide

1981

Land and Sons poster
6.7

An Icelandic farmer's son decides to leave his farm, fiance, friends, dog and horse, during the depression before World War II, to start a new life somewhere else.

Land and Sons

1980

On Top poster
7.1

Two rock groups, one male, the other female, decide to do a combined effort to hit the road of stardom by doing a show together. As the show is getting on the road, the lead singers of the two groups have a disagreement which brings about a parting of ways, in love as in life. A historic tour of the country begins, which through the music and performances of the two groups as well as the reactions of their audiences, reveals, beneath the comedy, glimpses of today's real competition between the sexes, seen against the background of Icelandic life.

On Top

1982

On Top poster
7.1

Two rock groups, one male, the other female, decide to do a combined effort to hit the road of stardom by doing a show together. As the show is getting on the road, the lead singers of the two groups have a disagreement which brings about a parting of ways, in love as in life. A historic tour of the country begins, which through the music and performances of the two groups as well as the reactions of their audiences, reveals, beneath the comedy, glimpses of today's real competition between the sexes, seen against the background of Icelandic life.

On Top

1982