This feels like an arthouse movie that could have released in the 70s or 80s. I could tell that this film was influenced by Herzog, Tarkovsky, and Bergman, but it still managed to be original and wholly captivating.
The film, shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio with an open gate, is just as much concerned with the landscape of Iceland as it is with the story of the film. It's a kind of Western about a priest who travels across Iceland to take photos and build a church, but tensions between him, the land, and the people threaten to taint his holy soul.
The pacing is slow, but there's never a dull moment. The cinematography, sound design, and music are beautiful. The film feels lived in and real, showing us the way of life of Icelandic people in the 1800s. The story is subtle but comes together...