Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

ChikPapa Very disappointed :(

SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

stephanlinsenhoff Her revenging return focuses not a few. Well planned but open to change the manuscript she designed abroad - in America. The fat "pummelige" duck has changed to a beautiful swan, knowing well what she was then and what she is today. No pity but justice and cold blooded following the manuscript. Never forgetting what happened then, yesterday and knowing what to do today. In the manuscript is the marriage to him, punishing whenever he doesn't do what he must, has to do. And when all is done - he is not needed and taken care - as, we only can guess, this American husband - of her. Many women and a few men. Either alcoholics, old or just dumb and silly. Whoever is mean to his wife, to women - has to pay. Freya is in the northern mythology the goddess of love and justice. Mythical. As her. Nobody, especially the mother of her husband, gets away unpunished. The weak, as the disabled in the family, can be assured of her justified help. But does she not understand that the love letters she receives and sends are doctored by Agda and her friend. Or does she know it, well aware that these letters help her to get what she wants? And, finally, is all this only the fantasy of a girl that leaves childhood and growing into the sphere of adolescence?

eldino33 THE SEAGULL'S LAUGHTER does one thing that international films rarely achieve: It transfers humor from one culture to another without exaggeration or silliness. The ironic nature of its black humor permeates each scene, resulting in a truly delightful film. The Left Elbow Index consider seven aspects of film--acting, plot, character, dialogue, production sets, artistry and film continuity--on a scale of 10 for excellent, 5 for average, and 1 for weak. First off, there are no weak areas in this film. The acting is very good by all the characters, with Ugla Egilsdottir's a notch above the others. It is difficult to believe those who claim this is her first major acting job. She's great in this role. The plot is also very good, and the adherence to plot structure is superior to most other films. The characters are average, mostly comic stereotypes in the British manner. The dialogue is average, with a total absence of trite interjections that find their way into some many Hollywood and Ballywood movies. No one has to make cute inane comments in this one. The production set are excellent, both indoors and outdoors, especially those which contrast the crowded living condition with the vast expanses of Iceland. The artistry is normal in the areas of costumes and music. The film continuity is very good in regard to tone and suspense. Just what will Agga do next? The Left Elbow Index average is 7.85, when equated to the IMDb scale it is a 9.0. Alas, this is a totally enjoyable movie, and I recommend it for some fun entertainment.

MartinHafer Actually, the above comment is VERY misleading, as this is perhaps the 3rd movie I have seen from Iceland. In fact, because we get so few Icelandic movies her in the US, I made it a point to give it a try, as I wanted something different.Overall, I liked this movie, as the acting was good and the plot took lots of little twists and turns. This movie is an excellent example of a film that is difficult to predict and has characters who are quirky but not one-dimensional cutouts.Freya is a worldly woman who is returning home to Iceland after the death of her husband. She moves in her extended family and from then on, the movie is seen, at times, from the eyes of her little cousin who resents having to share her home and bedroom with Freya. It's obvious early on that Freya isn't going to just blend in--as she arrived with 7 trunks clothes--all in the latest fashions. While she turns the heads of many men, the rich guy who initially shows her the most attention goes from hot to cold. It seems she is from a working class family and he is rich (at least by Icelandic standards), so it appears that he drops her cold. Later, though, it seems that despite his family pressures to ignore her, he returns and marries her. Life with this rich guy at first seems great, though difficult due to his bitchy mother. Then, the relationship begins to sour and Freya moves back with her family. The weak husband begins drinking (and whoring) and begs and then threatens the pregnant Freya to return. The final time he approaches her he is particularly violent and the scene is literally MISSING. I like that touch because you aren't sure exactly what happened. What happens next is just something you'll have to find out on your own, as it would definitely spoil the movie to talk further about the plot.Apart from the script and acting, the movie has very catchy mid-50's American music and a few VERY explicit sex scenes that make this movie a bad choice for the kids.PS--this movie reminds me of the Oscar-winning ANTONIA. Both are strong feminist films, but Mávahlátur doesn't seem nearly as preachy and is a better film.

ThrownMuse "The Seagull's Laughter" is set in a small Icelandic village in the 1950s. Years ago, a young woman named Freya left the village for America with her soldier husband. When she returns, stating that her husband died, she causes quite a disruptance. Part diva, part feminist, Freya's self-confidence starts to rub off on the other women, who start to dress flashy and assert their independence. The story is told through the eyes of Agga, Freya's 11 year old cousin who simultaneously despises and is fascinated by Freya. When men in the village start turning up dead, Agga is convinced Freya is the murderer. After all, she thinks she has seen her prancing around the seaside rocks, like an elf! There are some acts of violence in the film that seem out of place (e.g, Freya chucking a cat at her mother-in-law!) and sometimes the characterization gets a bit questionable. But, overall, "The Seagull's Laughter" is a well-made film filled with devilishly dark humor and rich with Icelandic lore.My Rating: 7.5/10.