DREAM OF THE WAY - dir. ERLENDUR SVEINSSON

Synopsis
Thor Vilhjálmsson, nestor of Icelandic writers, one of the pioneers of modern literature in Iceland, makes a 40 years old dream come true when he starts his pilgrims walk along the 800 km long St. James Way in northern Spain in the year 2005, when he will become eighty. He is eager to know what will happen to himself within when he encounters the way, his fellow pilgrims from many countries and the inhabitants of the various regions along the way. Icelandic medieval texts originated in the world of the way come alive so to speak when walking and in various places he even walks into, texts, scenes and sets from his own novels. One main theme is said to characterise Mr. Vilhjálmsson writing, the trip. Therefore, in his case, it is easy for him to accept the truth of an old observation that the Pilgrims Way symbolize Life.

Flash-backs to France, Iceland and former places on the way are interwoven into his walk which puts into pictures his thoughts and reflections inspired by his experience on his way.

Before he embarked on his journey he made an agreement with his worried friend, the well known composer Atli Heimir Sveinsson, that he would send him SMS messages every now and then to ease his mind but he forbids Atli to answer the messages. Atli’s reaction to this is “to answer him” in music.

Thor describes himself as a Cultural Pilgrim and he realizes on his pilgrimage the huge cultural heritage that is to be found along the way which needs to be preserved and interpreted for generations to come. And he realizes another observation that has been made saying that the European consciousness is in fact born on the Pilgrims Ways through Europe in the Middle Ages not only to Santiago de Compostela but also to Rome and Jerusalem.

Original title: Draumurinn um veginn
English title: Dream of the Way
Genre: A Drama documentary structured as a mixture of a documentary and feature film.
Language: Spoken languages are Icelandic, Spanish, French, Italian, English, German and some Danish and Swedish. Original narration is Icelandic.

Director: Erlendur Sveinsson

Scriptwriter: Erlendur Sveinsson

Main cast: Thor Vilhjálmsson as himself, Atli Heimir Sveinsson, the componist as himself and many others.

Narrator: Egill Ólafsson

Editor: Erlendur Sveinsson

Cinematographer: Sig. Sverrir Pálsson, Erlendur Sveinsson

Sound recording: Sigurður Hr. Sigurðsson
Sound design: Bogi Reynisson
Music: Atli Heimir Sveinsson, various period music and leidmotive music from various sorces selected and edited by Erlendur Sveinsson.

Producer: Erlendur Sveinsson

Production company: Kvikmyndaverstöðin ehf.

International sales & distribution: Kvikmyndaverstöðin ehf.

National sales & distribution: Kvikmyndaverstöðin ehf.



Country: Iceland

Length: 5 parts mini-series each part in feature film length

Screening format: 16/9

Production format: HDV, DVCAM

Film gauge/aspect ratio: Anamorfic 16/9
World premiére of the 1^st part: Teatro Principal in Santiago de Compostela, July 29^th, 2010