In Robin Thomson's film Poems, we follow Icelandic composer Viktor Orri Árnason and soprano Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir on a musical road-trip through Iceland, where they set out to discover more about the poetry that inspired their album ‘Poems’, released on Deutsche Grammophon in late 2023. The pair embark on a musical pilgrimage performing in intimate and awe-inspiring locations and exploring the cultural heritage of their native land to shed light on some of the country’s most eminent poets, both past and present. Each chosen location, from windswept cliffs to serene valleys, holds a deep resonance with the poets who once roamed these lands, drawing inspiration from the very same vistas that now set the stage for this musical homage.

Directed by 

Robin Thomson

Produced by

Viktor Orri Árnason

Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir

Antonio Cárdenas

Cinematography & Editing by

Robin Thomson

Audio recorded & mixed by 

Viktor Orri Árnason

Interviews with: 

Þórarinn Eldjárn (about Sigurður Pálsson)

Hólmfríður Benediktsdóttir (about Unnur Benediktsdóttir Bjarklind aka Hulda)

Guðrún Stefánsdóttir (about Ólöf Sigurðardóttir) 

Arnar Björnsson (about Guðfinna Jónsdóttir)

Arndís Lóa Magnúsdóttir

Live performances:

Piano, harmonium, pipe organ, guitar: Viktor Orri Árnason

Vocals: Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir

Recorded & mixed by Viktor Orri Árnason

Strings by members of the Reykjavík Orkestra:

1st Violin - Rannveig Marta Sarc

2nd Violin - Sólveig Steinþórsdóttir

Viola - Ásta Kristín Pjetursdóttir

Cello - Steiney Sigurðardóttir

All music written by Viktor Orri Árnason & Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir, with lyrics from the respective poets:

RÖDD

Poem by Sigurður Pálsson from Ljóð muna Rödd

published by Forlagið

NÁTTMYRKRIÐ

Poem by Sigurður Pálsson from Ljóð muna Rödd

published by Forlagið

VERA

Poem by Viktor Orri Árnason

Copyright control

ORÐ OG DRAUMAR

Poem by Sigurður Pálsson from Ljóð muna Rödd

published by Forlagið

BLIKNA

Poem by Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir

Copyright control

TIL KVÆÐAGYÐJUNNAR

Poem by Ólöf Sigurðardóttir frá Hlöðum from Nokkur smákvæði

Public domain

LJÓSSINS KNÖRR

Poem by Guðfinna Jónsdóttir frá Hömrum from Ljóð

Public domain

LÍKAMINN ER ÞANINN FIÐLUSTRENGUR

Poem by Arndís Lóa Magnúsdóttir from Taugaboð á háspennulínu

published by Una útgáfuhús

HVAR SEM EG FER

Poem by Hulda from Nokkur smákvæði

Public domain

All poems used with kind permission.

Poem translations to English by Viktor Orri Árnason, Árni Harðarson and Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir, except for poems by Sigurður Pálsson translated by Jay (Júlían) Meldon D'Arcy.

Filmed in Iceland, between July 18th and 28th, 2023.

℗ 2024 Viktor Orri Árnason, under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin