Rams
Two estranged Icelandic sheep-farming brothers must overcome decades of silence when a livestock epidemic threatens their inherited way of life.
Overview
Two estranged brothers must confront their past to save their livelihood and their sheep from extinction.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- bleak
- deadpan
- melancholic
- quiet evening
- arthouse movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a distinctive, bleakly humorous and deeply moving rural drama that turns an unusual livestock crisis into a universal story of brotherly estrangement.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The brothers' sheep-breeding heritage and livelihood collide with official disease-control orders.
The film combines an emotionally cold valley, stubborn farmers, and understated Scandinavian humor.
Gummi and Kiddi have not spoken for forty years despite living beside one another.
Snowbound Icelandic fields, sparse homes, and exposed farmland dominate the brothers' world.
Films like Rams, and why
The Ascent
shared austere rural setting, restrained emotional drama, and conflict between tradition and modern authority
A Man Called Ove
shared bleakly comic Scandinavian tone, isolated community, and intimate family conflict
The Naked Island
shared pastoral hardship, stubborn protagonists, and quiet themes of survival and human connection
Force Majeure
shared deadpan humor, remote landscape, and emotionally guarded characters confronting loss
Movie Details
- Director
- Grímur Hákonarson
- Release Date
- 2015-05-28
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (312)
Cast
- Sigurður Sigurjónsson
- Theodór Júlíusson
- Charlotte Bøving
- Jón Benónýsson
- Gunnar Jónsson
- Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson
- Þorleifur Einarsson
- Ingrid Jónsdóttir
- Jörundur Ragnarsson
- Viktor Már Bjarnason
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cohen Media Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Rams about?
- Two estranged Icelandic sheep-farming brothers must overcome decades of silence when a livestock epidemic threatens their inherited way of life.
- What is Rams like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rams as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Rams violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Rams as moderate.
- What did critics think of Rams?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a distinctive, bleakly humorous and deeply moving rural drama that turns an unusual livestock crisis into a universal story of brotherly estrangement.
- Which films are like Rams?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ascent, A Man Called Ove, The Naked Island, and Force Majeure.
- How long is Rams?
- Rams runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Rams?
- In United States, Rams streams on Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cohen Media Amazon Channel.
