Valdimar Jóhannsson

Lamb

Lamm

Dýrið

Iceland

Synopsis

"Lamb" is about the Icelandic couple Maria (Noomi Rapace) and Ingvar (Hilmir Snaer Gudnason) who live with their flock of sheep on a beautifully located but remote farm. When they discover a mysterious newborn on their land, they decide to keep it and raise it as their own. The unexpected prospect of creating a new family brings them much joy — but will ultimately destroy them.

Production Facts

"Lamb", selected for the Cannes section "Un Certain Regard", is Valdimar Jóhannsson's first feature film.

"Lamb" is an Icelandic-Swedish-Polish co-production, produced by Hrönn Kristinsdóttir and Sara Nassim at Go to Sheep in co-production with Piodor Gustafsson and Erik Rydell at Black Spark Prod, as well as Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska and Jan Naszewski at Madants, Film i Väst, Chimney Sweden, and Chimney Poland, in collaboration with Rabbit Hole Productions and Helgi Jóhannsson, with support from the Icelandic Film Centre, the Swedish Film Institute, the Polish Film Institute, Iceland’s Ministry of Industries and Innovation, Eurimages, and the Nordic Film and TV Fund.

The film is written by Valdimar Jóhannsson and Sjón, who was nominated for an Oscar for his lyrics in Lars von Trier's "Dancer in the Dark" (also co-produced with Film i Väst). Peter Hjorth is the VFX Supervisor ("Melancholia", "Antichrist", "Border") and Snorri Hilmarsson ("Woman at War") is the production designer.

Parts of the post-production were done in Region Västra Götaland at Dupp Film, Haymaker, and Chimney. Fredrik Nord was the VFX Supervisor.