The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films presents Gnarr.
Popular Icelandic comedian Jón Gnarr, having witnessed his country’s all-out economic collapse in 2009 and being fed up with the political status quo, invented a new political party and became a candidate for mayor of Reykjavik in the capital city’s 2010 municipal election. With no political experience at all and aiming to make a satirical statement on the political process, Gnarr’s campaign gains unexpected momentum despite his absurd promises of mandatory viewings of HBO’s The Wire, a drug-free parliament by 2020, and “all kinds of things for weaklings.” What starts as a stunt aimed at mocking both sides of the political spectrum turns into a hilariously incisive take-down of shallow party politics and a welcome antidote to political apathy.
Disc Features:
- High-definition digital transfer with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
- Audio commentary featuring director Gaukur Úlfarsson and star Jón Gnarr
- Hooray for All Kinds of Things, new interviews with Gnarr and campaign manager Heida Helgadóttir
- New interview with political scientist Gunnar Kristinsson on Iceland’s economic crisis, Gnarr, and the Best Party
- Deleted and extended scenes
- Trailer
- PLUS: An essay by film scholar Andrew Pendakis
Make Mine Criterion! 