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Plot Summary
From Focus Features, the premiere global brand in original and daring cinema, comes Focus World. Charged with finding the most exciting videos in international and independent film, Focus World is proud to bring you Gnarr, the hilarious true story of the comedian who ran for the mayor of Iceland's largest city. With Iceland falling on hard times, Jon Gnarr decided to invent a new political party - the subtly named "Best Party" - and run for office in order to mock the squabbling left and right. With a campaign that included mandatory viewings of HBO's "The Wire" for all politicians, free towels at public pools, and a "drug-free parliament by 2020," Gnarr soon found himself with unexpected political momentum, and realized that against all odds - he just might win.
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Customer Reviews
Best political documentary since The War Room
Hilarious, insightful, and highly entertaining. The film begins by depicting a joke that Jón Gnarr intends to play on Reykjavík politics, but the joke becomes a reality as people are deeply drawn to his positive message. Much of the film depicts him and his team poking fun at the political bureaucrats and institutions of Reykjavík, but humor aside, Jón and The Best Party have shown that there is a way for politics to be genuinely sincere; perhaps most remarkably, sincerity is shown to be a winning strategy. This goes down as one of my favorite documentaries of all time, and the Best Party has itself a new supporter!
Simple Yet Appealing Message
At one point during this documentary the star, Icelandic comedian John Gnarr, is participating in a round-circle type setting and is proposed with the idea that just like a great movie needs an outstanding director, a town needs a mayor who will go above and beyond what is expected. Throughout the film Gnarr tries to convey this message to two audiences, the citizens of Iceland's largest city and the viewers of this documentary. With good faith and lots of humor to add, Gnarr and the crew are able to show people that with real, gritty experience, you can make a difference for the people. You will be sure to laugh and connect with the story as it is centered around the international fall of the world enconomy. I would recommend this movie if you're in need of inspiration from the ground up and want to see a true under dog story.
Unlikely Adventure in Politics
“Gnarr” is the only political documentary I’ve seen that could be categorized as an adventure film. It follows the rise of the Best Party, a group of Icelandic reactionaries aligned against the status quo in their government. And the adventure begins when Jon Gnarr, actor and comedian, formed the Best Party and ran for mayor in the 2010 City Council Election in Reykjavik. Gnarr, a man whose previous career had been based on making fun of politicians, was an unlikely candidate. At first, even to Gnarr, the idea of him running was a big joke. In fact, this was the premise to his whole campaign. But as things started to unfold, people began to take Gnarr very seriously.
What makes this documentary so enjoyable is the contrast of Gnarr’s candor and inexperience against Iceland’s calloused and manipulative political system. In a totally unguarded style, Gnarr pokes fun at parliament’s hegemonic control over Iceland throughout the course of his campaign. At times, his boldness is uncomfortable. But Gnarr never wavers from his comedic role. His loyalty to his craft and country deserves the upmost respect.
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