Wrath of Gods
Encyclopedia
Wrath of Gods is a documentary directed by Jon Gustafsson
. It tells the story of the dramatic circumstances Canadian director Sturla Gunnarsson and his crew had to go through during the making of the film Beowulf & Grendel
. The main focus of the documentary is on director Sturla Gunnarsson
, but other participants are Gerard Butler
, Paul Stephens, Eric Jordan, Stellan Skarsgård
, Peder Pedrero, Wendy Ord and Sarah Polley
. The director of Wrath of Gods, Jon Gustafsson
, was hired to play one of Beowulf's warriors and he is credited in Beowulf & Grendel as Geat Warrior #2, and Gerard Butler
co-produced the film. The music was composed by Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
.
Jon Gustafsson
Jon Gustafsson is an Iceland born film director. Best known for directing the Canadian documentary film Wrath of Gods, starring Gerard Butler, Wendy Ord, Sarah Polley, Paul Stephens and Sturla Gunnarsson. He grew up in Iceland where he started his career as a television performer before studying...
. It tells the story of the dramatic circumstances Canadian director Sturla Gunnarsson and his crew had to go through during the making of the film Beowulf & Grendel
Beowulf & Grendel
Beowulf & Grendel is a 2005 film loosely based on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. Filmed in Iceland and directed by Sturla Gunnarsson, it stars Gerard Butler as Beowulf, Stellan Skarsgård as Hrothgar, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson as Grendel and Sarah Polley as the witch Selma...
. The main focus of the documentary is on director Sturla Gunnarsson
Sturla Gunnarsson
Sturla Gunnarsson is a Canadian film director.Gunnarsson was born in Iceland in 1951. He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, with his parents when he was seven years old. As he grew up he became interested in filmmaking and went to the University of British Columbia where he completed...
, but other participants are Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
, Paul Stephens, Eric Jordan, Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan John Skarsgård is a Swedish actor, known internationally for his film roles in Angels & Demons, Breaking the Waves, The Hunt for Red October, Ronin, Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist,...
, Peder Pedrero, Wendy Ord and Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea...
. The director of Wrath of Gods, Jon Gustafsson
Jon Gustafsson
Jon Gustafsson is an Iceland born film director. Best known for directing the Canadian documentary film Wrath of Gods, starring Gerard Butler, Wendy Ord, Sarah Polley, Paul Stephens and Sturla Gunnarsson. He grew up in Iceland where he started his career as a television performer before studying...
, was hired to play one of Beowulf's warriors and he is credited in Beowulf & Grendel as Geat Warrior #2, and Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
co-produced the film. The music was composed by Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson , also known as HÖH , is a musician, an art director, and allsherjargoði of Ásatrúarfélagið ....
.
Synopsis
At the beginning of July 2004, Canadian filmmakers Sturla Gunnarsson, Paul Stephens, Andrew Rai Berzins and Eric Jordan went to Iceland to make a film, a co-production between Canada, the U.K. and Iceland. It was the beginning of the most difficult project any of them had ever been a part of. A series of events continued to put the project in jeopardy. Halfway through production, the financing had not closed, the film was seriously over budget, and the bonder was alarmed enough to send a representative to Iceland. The entire production was put under intense scrutiny while the cast and crew were fighting the onset of a ruthless Icelandic winter and diminishing daylight. The storms tore roofs off buildings and swept away equipment, and Gunnarsson slowly seemed to take on the characteristics and physical appearance of a troll as he struggled to fight gigantic obstacles. The strong determination of the filmmakers (Sarah Polley called it a "sheer demented ambition") was the one thing that seemed to be able to steer this troubled ship through the storms and guide it to harbour. Two days before the end of principal photography Producer Paul Stephens admitted that is was a "miracle" that they were about to complete the shoot without having closed the 'bank'. To most other people on the crew it was a miracle that no one had died in a series of accidents and other unfortunate events that haunted the production.Cast
- Gerard ButlerGerard ButlerGerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
- Sturla GunnarssonSturla GunnarssonSturla Gunnarsson is a Canadian film director.Gunnarsson was born in Iceland in 1951. He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, with his parents when he was seven years old. As he grew up he became interested in filmmaking and went to the University of British Columbia where he completed...
- Wendy Ord
- Paul Stephens
- Eric Jordan
- Michael Cowan
- Stellan SkarsgårdStellan SkarsgårdStellan John Skarsgård is a Swedish actor, known internationally for his film roles in Angels & Demons, Breaking the Waves, The Hunt for Red October, Ronin, Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist,...
- Sarah PolleySarah PolleySarah Polley is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea...
- Ingvar Sigurdsson
- Tony CurranTony CurranAnthony "Tony" Curran is a Scottish actor.Curran was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He is an alumnus of Holyrood Secondary School and is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama....
- Jon GustafssonJon GustafssonJon Gustafsson is an Iceland born film director. Best known for directing the Canadian documentary film Wrath of Gods, starring Gerard Butler, Wendy Ord, Sarah Polley, Paul Stephens and Sturla Gunnarsson. He grew up in Iceland where he started his career as a television performer before studying...
Awards
- Audience Award - Best Documentary Feature - Oxford International Film FestivalOxford International Film FestivalThe Oxford International Film Festival was established in Oxford, Ohio in 2007 by founder and event director J.C. Schroder.-Festival History:...
2007 - Jury Award - Achievement in Filmmaking - Stony Brook Film FestivalStony Brook Film FestivalThe Stony Brook Film Festival, produced by Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, presents a program of new, independent films every summer since 1996. Features and short films from the U.S. and around the world are screened over ten days at Staller Center, which has been the venue...
2007 - Best Documentary Feature shot in digital - Napa Sonoma WineCountry Film Festival 2007
- Bronze Remi Award - film & video production - Entertainment WorldFestWorldFestWorldFest-Houston International Film Festival is an annual film festival, dedicated to various types of independent films, held in Houston, Texas.-History:...
2007 - Premio Especial do Juri - MOFF - Santarém, Portugal 2007
- Grand Jury Prize - Red Rock Film FestivalRed Rock Film FestivalRed Rock Film Festival is an international film festival in Southern Utah in the United States. Held annually in November, in St. George, Ivins, and Springdale by Zion National Park, the festival introduces the area to new international and US independent film...
, Utah 2007
Festivals
- Oxford International Film FestivalOxford International Film FestivalThe Oxford International Film Festival was established in Oxford, Ohio in 2007 by founder and event director J.C. Schroder.-Festival History:...
- RiverRun International Film FestivalRiverRun International Film FestivalThe RiverRun International Film Festival is a regional film festival held annually each spring in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The festival is a 5013 non-profit organization and presents a variety of feature-length and short films from all genres, and also presents special events, regional...
- Reykjavik International Film FestivalReykjavík International Film Festival- The festival :Reykjavík International Film Festival , is an international film festival held in Reykjavík, Iceland annually. The festival lasts 11 days each year and emphasizes young talents...
- Waterfront Film FestivalWaterfront Film FestivalThe Waterfront Film Festival takes place annually in the town of Saugatuck, Michigan in the United States. It is in its 13th year as of 2011.Ranked as one of the top 5 film festivals in the world by SAGIndie in the Screen Actors Guild Magazine, the Waterfront Film Festival draws thousands of movie...
- Stony Brook Film FestivalStony Brook Film FestivalThe Stony Brook Film Festival, produced by Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, presents a program of new, independent films every summer since 1996. Features and short films from the U.S. and around the world are screened over ten days at Staller Center, which has been the venue...
- Napa Sonoma WineCountry Film Festival
- Revelation - Perth International Film FestivalRevelation - Perth International Film FestivalRevelation Perth International Film Festival began in 1997. Founded to showcase a large range of independent feature films, documentaries, short films, and experimental works...
- NSI Film Exchange Canadian Film FestivalNSI Film Exchange Canadian Film FestivalThe NSI FilmExchange Canadian Film Festival was a film festival dedicated to showcasing and celebrating Canadian film achievement. Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada it was hosted each winter. The festival was organized by National Screen Institute, Canada's oldest nationally recognized film and...
- MOFF - Santarém, Portugal
- Docudays, Beirut, Lebanon
- Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
- Red Rock Film FestivalRed Rock Film FestivalRed Rock Film Festival is an international film festival in Southern Utah in the United States. Held annually in November, in St. George, Ivins, and Springdale by Zion National Park, the festival introduces the area to new international and US independent film...