Rent The County (2020)

A good film about abuse of power - The County review by TE

The inner workings of a farming co-operative in a remote Icelandic valley might sound like an unpromising setting for a movie, but the film makers prove that idea wrong.

The narrative is always absorbing and the lead actor, Arndis Egilsdottir, carries the film brilliantly. She is rarely off screen and her dogged presence seems to fit well with the other star of the film, the Icelandic landscape scenery.

There seems to be a political allegory not far below the surface, something along the lines of the dangers of Stalinist bureaucracy growing from the seeds of good ideas.

Sometimes those who have been crushed by bureaucracy can see it as an opportunity to make changes, as the jaunty pop song used in the film suggests.

Gentle Feel Good Film - The County review by CD

Interesting to see an Icelandic Farm and appreciate the pressures on people trying to make a living from the land. The film has a predictable direction but it is enjoyable and flows along well. The lead character (Inga) is strong but there is a lack of other strong characters across the film to make it really interesting as a drama. Well worth a watch though.

Good study of life in a farming monopsony - The County review by AS

They never use the word in the film, but the farmers in this part of backwoods Iceland are victims of a monopsony; instead of only one producer as in a monopoly, there is only one buyer, the 'co-op'. Not a farmer myself, but I've a feeling the activities of the farming co-op depicted in 'The County' may ring bells the world over. These organisations doubtless start with high ideals, guaranteeing to buy produce regularly at an agreed price, initially providing security to farmers and hence whole communities, but then they lose their way, get corrupted, or mostly probably just get taken over by corporations that share none of the original ideals and gradually unpick them, hoping nobody will notice. But Inga does notice, and fights fearlessly for her rights, inspiring other farmers to back her and finally establishing a new co-op of their own. That much is all fairly predictable but it's well done, credible, interesting socially and culturally, and resists sentimentality. Only disappointment for those who loved 'Rams' (and laughed out loud at parts of it), this isn't a comedy but a sober and serious work.

Not much to write home about - The County review by BE

Bleak landscape, bleak characters and consequently a bleak film. Apart from an incident with milk, totally lacking in humour. Passed a bit of time but wouldn’t recommend it. Very natural acting but too doleful for me 

Not a comedy, but a personal & farm politics drama - The County review by Mr Aquarium

Many of the reviews below are spot-on, especially PD's comments. The acting is superb, giving the film a documentary feel at times. There are only two moments of "comedy", albeit of a black kind. The film uses the central drama [of a dogged farmer fighting against a co-op which has fallen into authoritarian ways]to show Icelandic farm life as tough and unyielding. It's not in the same dramatic league as "Rams" [it's somehow a little too straightforward] but it did keep my attention, wanting to know what would happen next.

Quiet, thoughtful battle against the odds - The County review by CC

Enjoyed this quiet, thoughtful film very much.  the story of of a woman's fight to save her farm from the local collective.  very moving.