Dec

10

Sigur Ros - Heima DVD

Posted by Administrator

December 10, 2007 |

heima.jpg

Sigur Ros have recently released a brand new 2 disc DVD and it is nothing short of amazing. I got a chance to take in the 97 minute documentary this weekend and found it to be better than I expected. First off, to say this is a documentary may be a bit misleading, the band is interviewed throughout the film, but it does not get into much detail with them, and the music really plays center stage here. I was a bit surprised that the band and all the member of Amiina, who are also interviewed throughout, do all of their interviews in English, despite a few of them being a bit less than fluent. I was expecting loads of subtitles, and outside of one quick scene, I don’t think there are any.

I should note, for those unfamiliar, that Heima translates as “home” and “homeland” and if follows a series of free concerts Sigur Ros played in their native Iceland over the course of summer 2006. The band played these shows, not really unannounced, but certainly un-promoted and at very odd but usually fitting venues. Whether it was in the middle of the countryside, darkened caves, near a historic dam, or in a abandoned fish plant, I would have killed to be able to take one of these sets in live.

The cinematography of this film is, sans the music itself, where things really shine. The backdrops of the Icelandic landscapes, villages, countryside and people are not only a fitting canvas for this piece of art, but they define it. One of the things I have always felt can take a casual Sigur Ros fan into the super fan arena is the visual element. It plays an important role in the band’s live concerts, and an even larger role throughout this film. The images are breathtaking, comforting, and perfect all at the same time. The environment of Iceland is clearly not only a influence on the music of Sigur Ros, but almost seems to sound better within its boundaries. Beautifully filmed and edited, this is easily one of the best concert/documentary films I have seen in a long time.

The second disc is two hours of the same live performances uninterrupted by the commentary and is a gem in itself. I have only skimmed that disc up to this point, but can tell already it is a worthy companion to the documentary. I really recommend that you give this one a shot, and the packaging of the DVD is in the same vein as its presentation on the screen. It comes in a book with loads of images in it from the film and the two disc placed neatly at the beginning and end.

Check out the trailer for a teaser of the film. And be sure to pick up a copy, you won’t regret it.

Related Posts:
Sigur Ros - New DVD and CDSigur Ros - Artists In Residence SeriesSigur Ros- Taft TheatreTakk you very much…Voices and Organs

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