And Breathe Normally, written and directed by Isold Uggadottir - 8.6 out of 10

And Breathe Normally, written and directed by Isold Uggadottir
8.6 out of 10


In the age of Trump, rising nationalism, vociferous extreme right, the ascent of leaders like Salvini, Orban, this Icelandic motion picture is relevant, rather educational and perhaps inspiring for some viewers.

Evidently, members of the extreme right would condemn the humanity of the protagonists, wish for the asylum seeker to be jailed and probably taught a lesson.
After all, building a 'great, beautiful wall' is US official policy, with that fool in the highest position of power.

Lara is a single mother, trying to get a hold of her life, having made serious mistakes in the past, now that she tries to keep a job with the Icelandic customs.
She had been an addict and she has to sleep with her son, Eldar, and their cat in the car.

Once in a while they have to leave their pet and their situation is dramatic.
They are destitute.

Lara takes her son to the supermarket, where they take advantage of sampling.
She asks the woman who operates the stand with a new kind of organic chicken, that is allowed to roam free, that she has two other children in the car...

May she take a couple of plates for them to sample?
Yes, of course...

As they leave, Eldar is telling his mother that she has no other kids...
We are going on an adventure and so we make believe...

As they spend the cold night in the car - it is raining often during the movie, I don't know if that's the weather in Iceland, but the wind is also blowing quite hard- in the morning, the cat wants out.
Unfortunately, she is missing after she is done with her bodily functions.

The kind, gentle, sad, unlucky Adja finds the cat.
She is an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau.

In her application, she has explained that she is lesbian and therefore faces serious dangers if deported.
The ruthless,heartless officials seem to ignore this and they ask for hard evidence.

Poor Adja is asking her lawyer:
What do they want?
Live videos?

A heart warming friendship would eventually grow between Lara, Eldar - who keeps trying to tame the cat, make her do tricks only dogs manage - and Adja.

The film is somber, often dark, gloomy, depicting a side of society that is often hard to watch, at least for those who do not entertain Trumpian emotions and thrive when asylum seekers suffer.