unterwegs. Elías bittet Kristin, ihm Geld zu leihen, da er in Schwierigkeiten steckt. Kristin ist besorgt, aber sie will ihrem Bruder helfen.VatnajökullWhile on the way, U.S. Americans are supposed to investigate the consequences of climate change there. When Elías and the researchers meet, the story begins.
Diese stammt im Original aus der Feder von Arnaldur Indriðason. Der Thriller wurde schließlich von Óskar Thór Axelsson verfilmt. In dem Film kommt durchaus Spannung auf. Kristin erhält einen weiteren Anruf ihres Bruders und hält diesen für einen schlechten Scherz. Doch bald wird sie als letzter Kontakt und auf Grund von Bildern, die Elías ihr vor seinem plötzlichen Verschwinden zusendet, mitten hineingezogen in eine geheime Machenschaften, die mit einem abgestürzten Flugzeug der Nazis aus dem Zweiten Weltkriegs zu tun hat und das, so wird schnell klar, das eigentliche Ziel der amerikanischen Mission auf dem Vatnajökull ist. Die Leichen, die an Bord des Flugeugs sind, geben dem Film den deutschen Titel, im Original heißt er Napóleonsskjölin, laut Google-Übersetzer „Napoleonische Papiere“. Napoleon ist ein Codename für Dokumente, die mit einem Vorhaben zu tun haben, das der Absturz des besagten Flugzeugs verhindert hat.
When she became the target of those who wanted to uncover the secret of the airplane for selfish reasons, Kristin quickly realizes that the only chance to save her brother is to uncover the secret herself. Thus begins a race to do so.
Even though she is being framed for murder and Kristin is now a wanted criminal, she is not alone in this. An old acquaintance, someone who was once very close to her and is now a history professor, is helping her. Others who are aware of the crashed plane will also assist them. In the process, Steve Rush, the name of the professor portrayed by Jack Fox, has had a minor encounter with a quirky local farmer named Einar, played by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.
The movie manages to make you empathize with Kristin and her companions, and it’s hard to bear the fact that the only food she consumes during a long period of stress is a single hotdog. However, some of the characters are somewhat exaggerated and feel familiar. The relationship between Kristin and Steve Rush is also less original. And a mysterious trail related to a Nazi legacy… Haven’t we heard similar stories before? The darkness of a Nazi legacy can only have an impact if the plot supports it; otherwise, it feels somewhat worn out. Kristin can generate sympathy, but her surprise when she suddenly becomes a target seems forced at the beginning of the film. One may wonder if this sensationalism, referring to this chapter of history, is always necessary.
The movie is still entertaining, not least because of the great landscape images. It can be assumed that the book still works better, as there is even more room for one’s own imagination. The film adaptation is suitable for a cozy home cinema evening, now available in various formats, such as the DVD from Splendid Entertainment in Germany.