EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA

US, 2020, 123 minutes, Colour.
Will Ferrell, Rachel Mc Adams, Dan Stevens, Mikae Persbrandt), Pierce Brosnan, Melisanthe Mahut, Demi Lovato, Graham Norton, Jamie Demetriou.
Directed by David Dobkin

On the one hand, the annual Eurovision competition has an enormous following in many parts of the world, a popular cultural landmark for all the countries of Europe. It has a limited following in the United States. So, it is something of a surprise, that an American company would make a film about it, about characters who want to be in the competition and win it at all cost, about the competition itself, the kind of music, the visual presentation for television, costumes, décor, singing and dancing styles.

But they have. The film was directed by David Dobkin (The Wedding Crashers and other comedies). And, it was co-written by its star, Will Ferrell.

The filmmakers have chosen Iceland as the country that they will present, explore, parody. Iceland could stand in for Eurovision enthusiasts from any country but, with its being small, with its financial difficulties, with its Scandinavian and Viking tradition, it provides an entertaining background for its story.

The film is broad comedy, not relying on very much subtlety. And this is particularly the case for Will Ferrell, his character, Lars, a middle aged fisherman whose be-all and end-all is to win Eurovision. But, there is some subtlety in the characterisation of his singing partner, Sigrit, a particularly engaging performance by Rachel Mc Adams.

The opening takes us back to the 1970s, the community in a small town in Iceland, Pierce Brosnan, of all people, as the local patriarch, tough and macho, disdaining Eurovision, but amazed and alarmed when his little boy, dances in front of the television as Abbas sings Waterloo. And he is joined by the little girl who doesn’t talk.

To the present. Lars fishes with his disapproving father, craving his affirmation. He plays in the local band with Sigrit – but the locals want only one popular song, Ding-dong, not interested in their compositions. They try to prepare for Eurovision – watching the Icelandic competition, especially the favourite singer, when suddenly everything explodes and the contestants are all killed. The desperate local organisers put names in a box to find a substitute entry and, who should be drawn out but…

So, off to Eurovision in Edinburgh (and a pleasant look at that city). Lars, of course, is vain, obsessed, making all kinds of social and technical gaffes. On the other hand, Sigrit becomes even more radiant. She attracts the attention of the Russian competitor, Alexander (Dan Stevens), vain,. All stops out, with a very camp presentation of his song. So, all kinds of problems with the rehearsals, due, of course, to Lars. Sigrit gets caught up with Alexander. The Greek entrant sets her eyes on Lars (the screenplay giving no real or apparent reason!). Conflict, moods, but they do get their chance to perform – ending in comic disaster (comic for the audience but not for them).

And, for fans of Graham Norton, he has an enjoyable time playing himself as a television commentator.

A lot of amusement about the voting, some sympathy for Iceland, vengeance for the Danish bank official who dreaded Iceland winning because it would bankrupt them again, some conflict with Lars (and a visit to some elfs whom Sigrit prayerfully enlists for her success), and a finale that seems impossible – but, of course, is possible, a victory of some kind and a happy future, father-son reconciliation, father marrying Sigrid’s mother, everybody assembling to listen to the band plus baby again – only to want that local song, Ding-dong, played yet again.

An undemanding Netflix pastime – which, those who know Eurovision will probably relish and enjoy.

1. The popularity of the Eurovision contest? European contributions? The long traditions, the songs, the styles, the performers?

2. The choice of Iceland for this story? Satire on Iceland? On any European country and its ambitions? The small population of Iceland? Occupations? Financial situations and economy?

3. The prologue, the family watching Eurovision, 1974, Abba singing Waterloo? Lars and his dancing in front of the television? His father’s disapproval? Sigrit, coming from the kitchen, not talking, but dancing?

4. The transition to the present? Lars, middle-aged, working for his father, fishing? His friends? His father still looking down on his son? Lars and his love for Eurovision? Wanting to enter the competition, wanting to win? Obsessed? His singing at the restaurant with Sigrit? The band? Their own songs? The crowd wanting the same Ding-dong song?

5. Sigrid, older, charming? Her relationship with her mother? Supporting Lars?

6. The Iceland committee for Eurovision? The choice of the singer and her performance? The competition? The board meeting, and the financier’s sinister disapproval? The concert, the explosion, everybody dead? The later revelation that it was the financier concerned about the country and bankruptcy? The committee finding an alternate entry, putting the names in a hat, Lars and Sigrit emerging? Fire Saga?

7. Lars, Will Ferrell style, the enthusiasm, going to the performance, Sigrit and her support? Going to Edinburgh? The visit of the city? Encountering Alexander, the Greek contestant? The managers, stylists, choreographers? The rehearsals? The range of competitors and songs, costumes, choreographer?

8. Sigrit and Alexander, his camp style, ambiguities? His pursuit of Sigrit? Her innocence? The Greek woman, approaching Lars, the night together? The consequences?

9. The rehearsals, Lars and his pomposity? The appearance of the ghost of the dead singer? The comic disasters? The actual performance, seeming to go well, the scarf caught, the complete collapse? Everybody laughing? Everybody in Iceland watching the performance? Lars and his anger, leaving?

10. Alexander and his support? Sigrit rejecting him?

11. The media, Graham Norton and his commentary?

12. Sigrit, her deciding to stay, watching the votes coming in? Her determination to perform? Lars, on the fishing boat, not knowing what it happened, discovering the truth, his father support, diving into the water, going to see the elves (and Sigrit’s devotion to them)? The attempted murder, the finance his death?

13. Lars, the plane, the taxi, the joke about the Americans and giving him the lift and his previous denunciation of them?

14. Sigrit, the changing of the song, her performance, Lars and the piano? Disqualified because of the rules? But the popularity from the judges and the public?

15. A year later, Sigrit and Lars married, the baby, Lars’s father marrying Sigrid’s mother, all at the restaurant, the Americans there, singing – and wanting the song, Ding-Dong?