Katla Sólnes, Director, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2024, Columbia University, Screenwriting Award / 2025, Sundance Institute, Development Award

Project Type: Feature 

Genre: Drama

Length: 90 minutes 

Field of Science: Geology, Geophysics

Stage: Development 

Synopsis: 

In the highlands of Iceland in 1972, ELÍN (45)’s photo developing is interrupted when her husband, KÁRI (65) barges in, intrusive daylight ruining the photos. Elín prepares Kári for an upcoming geological excursion, but can barely contain her disapproval, as his doctor has not cleared him for the field. Kári yearns for Elín’s touch but she’s rigid and distanced, their disparate ages catching up to them. Elín aims to spend her respite from the field to work on her own research project, one Kári condescendingly dismisses. They await their student assistant’s arrival, J. MEADOWS. However, when JANE (21) shows up, both are shocked having assumed it would be a man. This anomaly shakes up the pair and Elín demands she be sent away, but Kári, intrigued, lets Jane stay.

Elín’s jealousy grows, and she abandons her plans to stay at home in order to fight for her place. Together, they head out to remap markers after Mt. Hekla’s eruption. Jane, grieving the death of her mother, sees a kindred spirit in Elín and begins challenging her worldviews, but Elín is unreceptive. Overwhelmed and feeling exposed, Elín’s sabotages Jane, inadvertently leading to Jane being physically harmed during field work and breaking an expensive geological tool, enraging Kári. Filled with regret and shame, Elín begins opening up to Jane and Jane’s admiration towards Elin is evident. As the women’s bond grows stronger, Kári becomes petulant from exhaustion claiming that he alone is shouldering the effort of their field work. Once back in their highland-home, Kári abandons the women for a conference in Reykjavík.

Left behind, Elín and Jane’s mutual admiration deepens. Jane encourages Elín to demand recognition in Kári’s work. Elín tells Jane about her research project and Jane is captivated by it. Their romance ignites, but soon discover that Kári has returned. Kári invites them to join him at the conference and Elín demands she present her own work, to which Kári accepts, fueled by his shame from his recent outburst.

At the conference, Elín watches men flock around Jane. Later, a drunken Kári wants to sleep with Elín, but she makes excuses to avoid him. Various people question Elín’s presentation, oscillating between excitement and doubtfulness. Consumed with anxiety of her own ability, Elín calls off her presentation. She soon comes to regret it and runs to the conference room, where she catches the end and sees Jane presenting her findings. Feeling betrayed, Elín withdraws.

When the trio return to the highlands, Jane apologizes and urges Elín to leave Kári. Meanwhile, Kári wants Jane gone, telling Elín that he wants to find a male replacement. Elín is caught in-between Jane and Kári, whose resentments towards each other seem to be growing by the minute, while both try to claim part-ownership of Elín’s work. Tensions are high and jealousy seems to be a foot. Elín is curious about this newfound hostility between Jane and Kári. The trio finishes their excursion, mapping the final pin to muted fanfare while the rift between all three grows. Jane, sensing Kári’s cooling regard, begs Elín to convince him to let Jane stay, but is unconvinced Elín’s fully trying.

Elín wakes early one morning and finds Kári missing from bed. Hearing noises outside, she looks out the window and sees Kári and Jane together, carnal. Pacing, Elín discovers a freshly typed research paper in Jane’s room, now bearing Jane’s name alongside Kári’s on the byline. Pretending to be calm, Elín offers to cut Jane’s hair, lulling her into a false sense of security. As she confronts Jane about Kári, Elín cuts off all of her hair. Jane, devastated and a tattered mess, drives away. The phone rings and a volcano has erupted and a helicopter is on its way for Kári. Elín wakes Kári, ignoring his questions about Jane. As the helicopter flies over their land, Jane’s Jeep is visible driving off below. The eruption is terrible, the calamity awe-inspiring. Elín watches, filled with her own hellfire. Once in a safehouse, Elín confronts Kári, and the two have a final showdown ending with Elín deciding to leave him. Elín, more confident and driven, meets a colleague of Kári’s and convinces him to let her join a geology class despite her lack of formal education In a distant moment of respite, Elín attends the class, and her own work with Kári is taught during the lesson, causing her fellow students to grin at her admiringly – Her byline finally secured.