Eurovision 2020 was cancelled due to Covid-19. But that didn’t put Eurovision season into a quick stop as the Netflix film about the song contest was going to be released on June! So we waited and it’s finally out! One thing I have to say is that as much I want to watch this film as a casual movie goer, I’m also watching this as a Eurovision fan.

So for this review, I will be pointing out some stuff about the film as both a movie critic and a Eurovision fan.

About the film

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is about Lars Erickssong who’s dream is to compete and win the Eurovision Song Contest. He and his childhood friend Sigrit Ericksdottir are trying to prove to their family and friends back in Husavik that they’re not a joke and will win the contest to do them and their small town proud.

As a critic, the film is trying to explain how Eurovision is like through comedy by showing how the song is selected (In Iceland at least) and what “somewhat” happens to the days leading up to the semi-finals. But as a Eurovision fan, it’s somewhat a parody on what Eurovision is like. I mean it’s accurate… but at the same time, not really.

What I like about the film (and will make my job so much easier) is that it’s set in Iceland. I say that because I root for Iceland for Eurovision every year (except 2018) so part of me is like “I can understand what’s somewhat going on”. Note, I’m not an Icelander but I have friends in various fandoms (inc Eurovision) from Iceland who shared with me their experience so I somewhat got the basic gist. Plus I’ve been to Iceland and talked with some of the locals about how Eurovision and the music industry works so there is also that.

However, the plot is somewhat a mix of a film trying to convey what Eurovision is about, with a film that my parents would enjoy. Like if you strip away the Eurovision elements, it’s just an adult rom-com about wannabe musicians and would make someone like me cringe. The only reason I was able to tolerate it is because of its Eurovision references.

Eurovision 1974

The film starts in Husavik, Iceland in 1975 – the year ABBA won Eurovision with Waterloo. We are invited in an Icelandic home where Erik, Lars’ father has invited his friends to watch the grand final. During the opening scene, we’re shown that Lars’ mother died a year prior and is still sad about it till Waterloo started to play. At the same time, a young Sigrit heard the song and started to dance with Lars. In the film, we can see a huge disconnect between Lars and Erik as when the friends’ ask (as a joke) if his son is going to perform in Eurovision someday, his father rather be dead.

What’s funny about this scene is that Eurovision is a fun event where fans and artists are able to express themselves through song and dance. However, the father is ashamed and embarrassed of his son dancing, despite him seeing him depressed prior due to the loss of his mom mother.

Also, the movie starts off in Icelandic. Everything, even the intro song, is in Icelandic. It felt really authentic and it was like watching an actual film made in Iceland. But that all shattered when young Lars started speaking in English. I was then reminded that this is an American-made film in collaboration with the EBU. This scene is the last time we see anyone speaking in Icelandic.

Also, I kinda expected the film to start out with ABBA since they’re really famous around the world, but at the same time – was hoping they wouldn’t.

The portrayal of Icelanders and their culture

What’s great about this film is that not only they just say “ok this is Iceland, a small island, a small town, some Icelanders speaking Icelandic” but it also touches about the country’s folk stories and mythos about the elves. It shows how genuine and how much effort they’re putting to try to make it really accurate as possible.

During the film, Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) literally goes up to the hills, present the elves with some food and drink, and pray for their help. Meanwhile, Lars (Will Ferrell) doesn’t believe in them until later when he visits them to make things right.

Also, some of the jokes in the film are mostly tongue-in-cheek unless you understand what’s going on. One joke is about how everyone in Husavik knows each other and where they all live. So the people in the bar were arguing whether to continue watching football or Eurovision, one of them pointed out that Lars and Sigrit were from their hometown, grew up with them, and they should support them, even if they’re rubbish as musicians.

A lot of the references on Icelanders, their way of life, culture, and mythos were portrayed really good and not just playing it off as a stereotype that they needed to add cuz “hey, it’s Iceland”. It actually fits in the movie and they made it work for the plot.

The portrayal of Sonvakeppnin and Eurovision

I have… A LOT OF THOUGHTS over this as a Eurovision fan. As a casual viewer, they did their best on portraying the Icelandic National selection and the song contest, but as a fan… SO MANY INACCURACIES.

For starters, I will forgive the movie’s mistake on breaking ONE rule of Songvakeppnin where they needed 12 acts (they changed it to 10 in 2019). But the way they treat their semi-finals is wrong. According to Songvakeppnin rules, songs in the semi-finals have to be performed in Icelandic and the artist has a choice to sing it in English during the finals.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is… I want an Icelandic dub of In the Mirror.

Also, I’d just want to comment on one scene in the film where RUV was trying to find their 12th act that they just picked a random song in a box of sent submissions.

I feel like that’s how this one act from Songvakeppnin 2019 got in.

Same goes for their portrayal of Eurovision. At least like 50% of it is accurate to what actually happens on the night itself, but the rest… they changed it. The giving out of the scores ONLY HAPPENS during the Grand Final… not the semi-finals.

THE ONLY THING ACCURATE in this movie is Graham Norton roasting everyone… THAT’S IT!!! Everything else… it’s either close or not-so-much.

Also, the amount of rules that were broken in this film is just putting me in shock. I question myself this when watching “did the producers and writers watch Eurovision???”.

Cameos & special appearance – which worked and which didn’t

This film included cameos to past/iconic Eurovision artists and some of the cast are notable too. When I saw Alexander Rybak performing with Will Ferrell, I freaked out.

Also, seeing Salvador Sobral playing the piano in the middle of Scotland, I laughed a bit considering how much he “wanted music to be not just fireworks”.

The big disappointment was Demi Lovato. She plays as Katiana (and performed In the Mirror) and makes a few appearances, performed in Songvakeppnin, then was killed off due to a boat accident. She then later reappears as, and I quote in the movie “not a very helpful ghost“.

I felt like her role was more of a waste of time. Maybe if she acted like a ghost to make Lars insecure, telling him he would never make Iceland proud, it would make sense. But her role was to warn Lars about a danger… WHEN THE DANGER WAS OVER!!! Big slap on the face.

I rather have Demi Lavato play as another country representative to be as a friend/third wheel to combat Alexander (Dan Stevens) and Mita (Melissanthi Mahut) attempts to pull Lars and Sigrit’s friendship apart.

The Soundtrack

Volcano Man

We’re then shown the music video for Volcano Man. We’ve all seen the video back in May and a lot of us have mixed thought on it. For me, I thought it was an alright song. It gave me vibes from past Icelandic entries.

But sadly, this is not the song that they were going to submit to Eurovision, but rather – Double Trouble.

Double Trouble

Double Trouble is a song I wouldn’t vote for in Songvakeppnin… or Eurovision. It’s basically a parody of what a Eurovision song should be like (even the performance). Song’s ok but I wouldn’t put it on repeat.

In The Mirror

This song feels like a “safe song” entry. This means that it’s more likely to appeal to the jury but not to the televote. So In the Mirror, it’s a good song… but nothing much comes out of it in terms of performance and staging. Want me to tell you what this song reminds me off in comparison?

These:

The Song-Along

To keep it short and simple – this one reminded me of Pitch Perfect. It gave off the “Riff-Off” vibes. I like how iconic Eurovision performers and past winners were performing with the main cast but the scene itself just reminded me of Pitch Perfect.

The songs that were performed in the film’s portrayal of Eurovision

A lot of the other songs that were performed in Eurovision (in the film) are ok but… not really memorable. Part of me feels like a lot these songs and performances are just parodies rather than what could actually be submitted.

Sweden’s act was cringe because I HIGHLY DOUBT they would let a rap song win Melodifestivalen (and this is saying something cuz I was looking at “weird entries in Melodifestivalen” and I liked this one entry in 2013).

Running with the wolves is perhaps THE ONLY SONG that was performed in the movie’s Eurovision was a good and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an actual entry.

The staging and performance is energetic. It’s a mix between seriousness and eccentric. The song’s catchy and memorable that I’d would put it into my top 10. I swear, someone can actually submit this and… oh wait… they copied Finland 2007.

Lion of Love is interesting to watch as well. Is it something I’d see Russia perform… maybe???? It’s a powerful song and holy crap the sex appeal that emits in the performance.

Husavik (My Hometown)

To anyone in Iceland writing a song for Songvakeppnin… WRITE SOMETHING LIKE THIS!!! Merge Icelandic with the English lyrics. This song is really beautiful and I take offence in the movie when they said “Icelandic songs don’t win Eurovision” cuz… Hatari???

Husavik is a beautiful song and I wish to know what the Icelandic lyrics translate to because all I got was “Husavik will always be my home” or something along those lines. I wouldn’t be surprised as well if it was an actual entry to Eurovision.

The only issue I have in the song however is Will Ferrell singing along as backup. It kinda killed the mood a bit but I can let it pass.

Does this film deserve my douze pointes?

This film is more tongue-in-cheek when it comes to Eurovision and Icelandic culture and how both are represented. It tries to explain what the song contest is and how it works but at the same time, it feels like a parody. I cringe in some parts but I also enjoyed it. It makes up for the cancellation of the song contest due to the pandemic, but at the same time as I’m watching this, I constantly ask “how are they able to get away with breaking so many rules?!?!“.

I’d give it 6 points (3.5 out of 5 stars). It could do better but they tried their best. I would like an Icelandic dub of the film so I can swap between English and Icelandic during the parts when they’re in Iceland and the parts when they’re not just for the immersion.

Next Eurovision movie to look forward to – A Song Called Hate (a documentary about Hatari’s involvement in Eurovision)