Review of XL (2013) by Matt M — 21 Nov 2013

Thorsson's latest film is certainly not of the easy kind. Dealing with the darkness of themes such as political and moral decadence, he builds a world of psychedelic insanity and puts an 'extra-large' Alice in Wonderland figure Leifur at the centre of it all - a parliamentary member, king adulterer, alcoholic who in fact appears to be the human incarnation of all of the seven deadly sins.

An eccentric stylised vision of corruption and depravity, XL is quite simply a rollercoaster ride into hell and depravity, right up to its cathartic and nightmarish ending. It is a very unique vision, particularly considering its originality among the usually static Icelandic cinema through a non linear narrative construction and a wild technical approach that delves into the unconventional.

The film also asks itself serious questions about masculinity through its lead character's struggles and his role as a son, husband and father. Mind you, some will be shocked and disturbed by the film, but this is mostly because it almost forces us in the shoes of this Shakesperean anti-hero Leifur to the point where we perversely begin to feel for him, in spite of his lack of proper ethics and despite him symbolising virtually all that is wrong in modern society.

Ólafur Darrí Ólafasson is nothing short of praiseworthy as he on takes the role of this 'big bad man'. His kind of brave interpretation, which demanded a delicate type of self-deprecation and physicality, is absolutely crucial to the film that without it would have quite simply fallen apart.