As noted by one of the audience, overall the film has a light, even comedic touch, which is certainly unusual in relation to the deeply political and subversive subject matter,

says artist and cultural blogger Jodi Rose in an article she posted after attending the screening of Ge9n in Altes Finanzamt, Berlin. The article certainly makes a pleasurable read for the team behind the film, while it is also quite informative for those unfamiliar with the subject-matter, the trial against the Reykjavík 9 and its context.

Snorri Páll Jónsson, one of the nine, and DoP Miriam Fassbender were both in town and answered questions from the audience after the screening, along with director Haukur Már Helgason. Novelist and publisher John Holten of Broken Dimanche Press led the discussion. Thank you all, and not least Altes Finanzamt and its Kinoclub, Cine Alfinete, for a splendid evening.

“The people who were charged for attacking Parliament, on behalf of the rest of us, deserve that we go and see one film. Which is, as I said, necessary. Can you say anything better about a film? The same will not be said about everything, neither books nor films; most things are probably completely unnecessary, books, movies, writing. Something necessary doesn’t come along but every so often. And this film will be even more necessary as time goes by. […]

Not seeing this film would be absolutely ridiculous. Hurry up before it’s too late.”

Translated from Stefánsson’s blog.

So raise your voice. Let it out. Push against; push through. Stop it. Change this. Watch ‘Ge9n’. Question. React. Discuss.

Most importantly, do something.”

Canadian poet Angela Rawling’s full review for the Reykjavík Grapevine.

“If you believe all activists are lazy-ass squatters towards whom the police needs to take a ‘tougher stance’, the odds are miniscule that you will like the documentary Ge9n/A9ainst by Haukur Már Helgason.’ These are the opening words of Fréttablaðið’s critic Haukur Viðar Alfreðsson’s review, who deems the film ‘a work of punk-art’, praising its basic approach, “concise, symbolic and effective imagery” and not least the film’s use of music. Alfreðsson gives the film four stars out of five and reaches the conclusion that Ge9n is:

“A great film about bizarre events. Artistic ambition makes up for rare bumps in its flow.”

Quote from an interview with Haukur Már Helgason in the weekend edition of Icelandic newspaper DV. Bits and pieces from the interview are published on the newspaper’s website.