Among the Living - Markéta Irglová, feat: Siggi String Quartet & Aida Shahghasemi (Official Video)

Among the living is a long and rich song by Marketa Irglova, written and composed during a special time in human history, when a pandemic swept across the globe. The song is dedicated to the millions of people that have suffered from loneliness, sickness, loss and grief. Director Anni Ólafsdóttir has long been fascinated by the term Tarantism: "To overcome melancholy with the uncontrollable urge to dance." Marketa had already spoken to two dancers, Ale a gaga dancer from Paraguay and Yannier a classical ballet dancer born in Cuba, living in Iceland. Anni had a favourite contemporary dancer from Latvia, Klāvs Liepiņš that added the third element of dance and movement art to the piece.

Each dancer created his own response to the song and then they rehearsed together to synchronise their emotions and know each others movements. The song is an emotional journey almost 15 minutes, so the challenge is to make a short film, that keeps the arch of emotion, loss, love, and hope so the audience looses track of time. The story is open for anyone to interpret in his own way and Markéta’s text gives some guidance as well. We have elements of religion and grace, elements of despair, of being lonely among others, elements of water, symbols of the steps of grief and some symbols of hope. The characters are stuck in certain spaces but the movements show us that despite everything, hardship and grief does pass. Just like a dancer turns, the world keeps on turning and life continues and makes room for your next steps. This take on tarantism: to overcome melancholy through an uncontrollable urge to dance - will hopefully reach those that need it - inspire, maybe help and heal.


Director: Anni Ólafsdóttir
Co-director: Andri Snær Magnason
                                            
Producer: Andri Snær Magnason
Producers on set: Hanna Björk Valsdóttir & Sturla Míó Þórisson
 
Executive Producers: Markéta Irglová & Sturla Míó Þórisson

Performers

Dancers: Ale Jara
(In order of Yannier Oviedo
appearance) Klavs Liepins


Singer: Markéta Irglová
Church Organ: Björn Steinar Sólbergsson
1st Violin: Una Sveinbjarnadóttir
2nd Violin: Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir
Viola: Þórunn Ósk Marínósdóttir
Cello: Sigurður Gunnarsson

Crew

Director of Photography: Anton Smári Gunnarsson
Focus Pullers: Hjálmar Þór Hjálmarsson
Róbert Magnússon
2nd AC : Rúnar Vilberg Hjaltason
DIT: Eva Lind Höskuldsdóttir

Gaffer: Halldór Kristinsson
Best Boy: Bjarki Heimisson

Key Grip: Tómas Freyr Jóhannsson
Speciality Rig & Drone: Gunnar Steinn

Editors: Anni Ólafsdóttir
Eva Lind Höskuldsdóttir
Color Grading: Bjarki Guðjónsson at Trickshot

Production Designers: Dröfn Ösp Snorradóttir
Johnny Rozas

Costume Designer: Ellen Loftsdóttir
Costume Assistant: Arna Engilbertsdóttir
Make-Up Artist: Flora Buenano
Graphic Design: Helsinki Studio

Music

Written by: Markéta Irglová
Produced by: Sturla Mio Thorisson
Performed by: Markéta Irglová
Siggi String Quartet
Aida Shahghasemi

Recorded, mixed & mastered by:
Sturla Mio Thorisson
at Masterkey Studios 2021


Extras:

Guðmundur Eiríksson
Elín Guðmundsdóttir
Einar Ólafsson
Guðrún Helga Jónasdóttir
Anna María Bogadóttir
Gunnlaugur Friðriksson



Special Thanks:

Kukl
Trickshot
Hótel Saga
Ingibjörg Ólafsdóttir
Birgir Örn Brynjólfsson
Kiley Rene Larson
Sigtryggur Ari Jóhannesson
Hrönn Egilsdóttir
Sigríður Hjálmarsdóttir
Hallgrímskirkja
Hrafnkell Sigurðsson
Ámundi Sigurðsson
Pajonka
Swimslow
Spuutnik
Vilborg Árný Valgarðsdóttir
Berglind Jóhannesdóttir
Šárka Veronika
Cat Gundry-Beck
Freyr Karel Branolte
Sigurður Þór Helgason DJI Iceland

Marketa IrglovaMarkéta IrglováMasterkey