2023
Unrated
Altered Innocence
2 h 3 m

2023
Unrated
Altered Innocence
2 h 3 m

Summary Addi, a boy raised by a clairvoyant mother, decides to adopt a bullied misfit into his gang of outsiders. Left to their own devices, the boys explore aggression and violence but also learn about loyalty and love. As the group’s behavior escalates towards life-threatening situations, Addi begins to experience a series of dreamlike visions...

Drama

Directed By: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

Written By: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

2023
Unrated
Altered Innocence
2 h 3 m

2023
Unrated
Altered Innocence
2 h 3 m

Beautiful Beings

Name: Beautiful Beings
Genre: Drama
Released: 2023-01-13
Duration: 2 min 3 s
Rating: 58
Cast: Birgir Dagur Bjarkason, Áskell Einar Pálmason, Viktor Benóný Benediktsson, Snorri Rafn Frímannsson, Aníta Briem

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews

User Score Available after 4 ratings

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Drama

Directed By: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

Written By: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews

33% Positive
3 Reviews

67% Mixed
6 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

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Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews

33% Positive
3 Reviews

67% Mixed
6 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Screen Daily

Jan 9, 2023

The impressive second feature from Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson confronts the feral cruelty and violence of children on the cusp of adulthood, but finds also a tenderness amid the sharp edges and posturing.

By Wendy Ide FULL REVIEW

Movie Nation

Jan 10, 2023

Beautiful Beings, titled “Berdreymi” in Icelandic, is superb at capturing the universal problem of idle, unsupervised boys making bad choices, creating “Lord of the Flies” pecking orders and lashing out in violence because nobody’s taught them otherwise.

By Roger Moore FULL REVIEW

Los Angeles Times

Jan 19, 2023

An often tense release-valve scenario flecked with moments of dream imagery and lyrical naturalism, “Beautiful Beings” certainly positions Guðmundsson as one of the more thoughtful chroniclers of the awkward age, even if he never quite knows how to corral his many moods into something wholly resonant about the nihilistic trap of delinquency.

By Robert Abele FULL REVIEW

The Guardian

Jan 9, 2023

Beautiful Beings is shot with real style, with very good performances, but the cliched and consequence-free violence is a flaw.

By Peter Bradshaw FULL REVIEW

The Film Stage

Jan 19, 2023

While compelling in individual scenes, especially as the boys navigate their increased anger at the world, Beautiful Beings ultimately whiplashes between too many ideas and subplots to create a coherent thematic through line.

By Christian Gallichio FULL REVIEW

The New York Times

Jan 12, 2023

It doesn’t add up to much, despite the appealing young cast and the handsome cinematography that brings texture and visual interest to every grubby corner.

By Manohla Dargis FULL REVIEW

TheWrap

Jan 11, 2023

The best scenes in this movie show that Guðmundsson has a talent for make-believe, drug trips and fantasy scenarios, and if there were more such set pieces in Beautiful Beings, then it might have been something more distinctive rather than the latest in a very long line of films about young people left on their own.

By Dan Callahan FULL REVIEW

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Production Company Join Motion Pictures, Bastide Films, Film i Väst, Hobab, Icelandic Film Center, Motor, Negativ

Release Date Jan 13, 2023

Duration 2 h 3 m

Rating Unrated

Genres

Drama

Tagline When a teenage boy adopts a bullied misfit into his gang of outsiders, he begins to experience a series of dreamlike visions.

Website http://www.jmp.is/

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Awards

Edda Awards, Iceland

• 1 Win & 11 Nominations

Berlin International Film Festival

• 1 Win & 3 Nominations

Valladolid International Film Festival

• 1 Win & 2 Nominations

Beautiful Beings

Top Cast

Birgir Dagur Bjarkason

Addi

Áskell Einar Pálmason

Balli

Viktor Benóný Benediktsson

Konni

Snorri Rafn Frímannsson

Siggi

Aníta Briem

Guðrún (Addi's mother)

Ísgerður Elfa Gunnarsdóttir

Hulda (Balli's mother)

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson

Svenni

Kristín Ísold Jóhannesdóttir

Hófí (Balli's sister)

Blær Hinriksson

Símon

Theodór Pálsson

Danni Braindead

Kamilla Guðrún Lowen

Anna

Aðalbjörg Emma Hafsteinsdóttir

Fríða

Sunna Líf Arnarsdóttir

Helga

Davíð Guðbrandsson

Haukur (Addi's father)

Þórhildur Ingunn

Elísa (Addi's sister)

Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir

Unnur (Balli's social worker)

Árni Arnarson

Toni

Stefán Franz Guðnason

Jónas

Arnar Dan Kristjánsson

Reporter

Bragi Árnason

Investigating police officer

Critic Reviews

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Details

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Awards

Awards

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