Godland (2022) review

Danish priest Lucas (Elliott Crosset Hove) is sent to oversee the construction of a church in desolate Iceland with the begrudging assistance of local guide Ragnar (Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson), becomes sick and is nursed back to health by Carl (Jacob Lohmann) and his daughters Ida (Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir) and Anna (Victoria Carmen Sonne), gets romantically involved with Anna, tries to flee ... and meets a bad end.  It begins by saying that it was "inspired by" a series of wet plate photographs - which is not true - and then proceeds to drag its underdeveloped characters through the literal grime, pausing every so often for some babbling or to admire the scenery (which is lovely).  The films of Andrei Tarkovsky have to be a key influence, but this is clearly missing the earnest spirituality and haunting poetry of the Russian master.