Woman at War poster

Woman at War

"Halla is a choir teacher. She's also a saboteur."

Movie 2018 1h 41m 7.2 /10
Directed by Benedikt Erlingsson

On a windswept plateau and in the Icelandic landscape, Halla is a determined woman who wages a one person crusade against a aluminium plant. Her guerrilla tactics mix public spectacles, whistleblowing, and clever calculations as she tries to stop the industry from eroding the mountains she loves.... Read more

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Streaming availability last verified: February 04, 2026

About Woman at War

On a windswept plateau and in the Icelandic landscape, Halla is a determined woman who wages a one person crusade against a aluminium plant. Her guerrilla tactics mix public spectacles, whistleblowing, and clever calculations as she tries to stop the industry from eroding the mountains she loves. She frames her fight as a moral duty, a personal oath to protect a fragile way of life rather than a mere protest. Yet life complicates her plans when an orphan child appears in need of shelter and care, forcing Halla to weigh the costs of her campaign against the possibility of a second chance for someone else. The movie tracks those choices with wit, grit, and emotional depth.

Released in 2018, the film is directed by Benedikt Erlingsson and based on an original screenplay by Ólafur Egilsson. It blends drama, thriller, and touches of comedy while drawing on Icelandic landscapes and music. The performances emphasize a musical sensibility that mirrors the landscape itself.

Box office data is not provided in the available information; the film has circulated primarily through festival screenings and international arthouse releases rather than wide commercial distribution. It found audiences through attentive theaters, curious festival programmers, and streaming platforms that cater to arthouse cinephiles.

People noticed the film for its inventive use of song and performance as a narrative engine. Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir plays Halla and also performs as Ása, blending music with activism. The movie sparked conversations about environmental issues and the role of individuals in protecting delicate landscapes. Its fusion of a whistle with choral and folk style music and its Icelandic cast contributed to a distinct voice in contemporary cinema.

Critics praised its tonal balance of humor, tension, and social message, noting how the film uses personal sacrifice and community ties to explore larger questions about humanity's footprint on nature. It treats environmental activism as a human story rather than a political sermon.

Details

Release Date
May 22, 2018
Runtime
1h 41m
User Ratings
427 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Drama, Thriller, Comedy
Country
France
Studio
Slot Machine +4 more
External Links
View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir

Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir

Halla / Ása

Jóhann Sigurðarson

Jóhann Sigurðarson

Sveinbjörn

Davíð Þór Jónsson

Davíð Þór Jónsson

Pianist / Accordion Player

Magnús Trygvason Eliassen

Magnús Trygvason Eliassen

Drummer

Ó

Ómar Guðjónsson

Sousaphone Player

I

Iryna Danyleiko

Ukrainian Choir Singer

G

Galyna Goncharenko

Ukrainian Choir Singer

S

Susanna Kurpenko

Ukrainian Choir Singer

Jörundur Ragnarsson

Jörundur Ragnarsson

Baldvin

Juan Camillo Roman Estrada

Juan Camillo Roman Estrada

Juan Camillo

Director: Benedikt Erlingsson

Written by: Ólafur Egilsson

Frequently Asked Questions

Woman at War is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

Yes, Woman at War is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Yes, you can rent on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video or buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

With a rating of 7.2/10 from 427 viewers, Woman at War is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

On a windswept plateau and in the Icelandic landscape, Halla is a determined woman who wages a one person crusade against a aluminium plant. Her guerrilla tactics mix public spectacles, whistleblowing, and clever calculations as she tries to stop the industry from eroding the mountains she loves....

Woman at War stars Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, Jóhann Sigurðarson, Davíð Þór Jónsson, Magnús Trygvason Eliassen, and Ómar Guðjónsson.

Woman at War was directed by Benedikt Erlingsson.

Woman at War was released on May 22, 2018.

Woman at War is a Drama, Thriller, and Comedy film.

Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir stars as Halla, who also goes by Ása. The supporting roles are played by Jóhann Sigurðarson as Sveinbjörn, Davíð Þór Jónsson as the Pianist/Accordion Player, Magnús Trygvason Eliassen as the Drummer, and Ómar Guðjónsson as the Sousaphone Player.

The film follows Halla as she declares a one-woman-war on the local aluminium industry. She risks everything to protect the Icelandic Highlands she loves, until an orphan unexpectedly enters her life.

The movie was directed by Benedikt Erlingsson and created by Ólafur Egilsson. It blends drama, thriller and comedy to tell its story.

It's categorized as drama, thriller and comedy. The mix reflects the film's social tension, suspense and humor.