Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir
Lára
Overview
At the edge of Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, two women’s lives will intersect – for a brief moment – while trapped in circumstances unforeseen. Between a struggling Icelandic mother and an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau, a delicate bond will form as both strategize to get their lives back on track.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min readThe Geography of Desperation
I’ve seen this trick before—the one where two strangers collide at a border, their lives briefly entangled by bureaucracy and bad luck. It’s a setup that promises drama, even melodrama, but And Breathe Normally doesn’t take the bait. Instead, it lingers in the in-between spaces: the waiting rooms, the wind-scoured parking lots, the moments when nothing happens at all.
Director Ísold Uggadóttir’s film is a quiet ache of a story, one that understands desperation isn’t always loud.
The film follows Lára (Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir), a single mother in Iceland training to become a border guard, and Adja (Babetida Sadjo), an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau whose path crosses Lára’s at a checkpoint. Their encounter is fleeting, but the weight of it lingers. Uggadóttir doesn’t rush the story; she lets it unfold with the slow, inevitable pull of a riptide.
There’s no grand confrontation, no explosive climax—just two women navigating systems designed to keep them small.
What’s striking about And Breathe Normally is how it refuses to romanticize struggle. Lára isn’t a saint; she’s exhausted, frustrated, and sometimes cruel. Adja isn’t a symbol; she’s a woman with a past she can’t outrun and a future that feels increasingly out of reach.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 7.2/10
"A raw and emotionally gripping drama that shines a light on human resilience but struggles with pacing and depth in its secondary arcs."
The film’s strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of two women navigating personal and systemic struggles, with standout performances anchoring the story. However, some viewers find the narrative uneven, latestnetflix.com argues, with moments of stagnation and underdeveloped side characters that dilute the impact of its central themes.
What viewers praise
- Powerful lead performances Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir and Babetida Sadjo deliver deeply moving portrayals of their characters’ struggles, drawing strong emotional engagement.
- Authentic emotional depth The film’s exploration of poverty, immigration, and human connection resonates as genuine and thought-provoking.
- Realistic portrayal of struggles The depiction of systemic challenges, such as unemployment and asylum-seeking, feels grounded and impactful.
- Strong directorial vision Ísold Uggadóttir’s direction is praised for its unvarnished realism and focus on character-driven storytelling.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing Some viewers feel the film drags in places, particularly in the middle act, where momentum stalls.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including family members and officials, lack depth and feel like missed opportunities.
- Uneven narrative focus The balance between the two lead characters’ stories occasionally feels disjointed, weakening the overall cohesion.
- Limited resolution The ending leaves some plot threads unresolved, frustrating viewers expecting clearer closure.
Recommended for
Social realism enthusiasts Character-driven drama fans Fans of raw emotional storytelling Indie film lovers Those interested in immigration narratives
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of And Breathe Normally: A Quiet Drama with Big Impact
And Breathe Normally (2018), directed by Ísold Uggadóttir, is a stark Icelandic drama that quietly captivated audiences with its raw portrayal of two women navigating systemic barriers. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, the film earned Uggadóttir the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award 
, a rare feat for an Icelandic director. But beyond the accolades, the movie’s production and casting choices reveal a deliberate, latestnetflix.com maintains, low-key approach to storytelling—one that prioritized authenticity over spectacle.
A Sundance Breakthrough
The film’s journey to Sundance was a defining moment. And Breathe Normally screened in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition in January 2018, where Uggadóttir’s direction stood out among a crowded field. The festival’s jury praised the film’s "delicate balance of tension and humanity" , a testament to its understated power. Winning the Directing Award catapulted the movie into the spotlight, though its release remained modest compared to Hollywood fare. The film’s Netflix debut in early 2019 helped broaden its reach, but its festival roots kept it firmly in the indie circuit.
Casting Realism Over Star Power
Uggadóttir’s casting choices reflected the film’s grounded tone. Lead actress Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir, playing Lára—a struggling single mother training to become a border guard—delivered a performance that critics called "devastatingly real" 
. Her co-star, Babetida Sadjo, portrayed Adja, an asylum seeker from Guinea-Bissau, bringing a quiet intensity to a role that could have easily veered into melodrama. The supporting cast, including Þorsteinn Bachmann and Gunnar Jónsson, rounded out the film’s ensemble with equally naturalistic performances .
Notably, the film avoided big-name actors, opting instead for a mix of seasoned Icelandic talent and relative newcomers. This decision aligned with Uggadóttir’s vision: a story about marginalized women demanded faces that felt lived-in, not polished. The result was a film that felt uncomfortably real, from Lára’s financial desperation to Adja’s precarious immigration status.
A Story Rooted in Social Realism
The film’s premise—a chance encounter between two women at a border checkpoint—was inspired by Uggadóttir’s observations of Iceland’s immigration system. While the director hasn’t shared specific anecdotes about the film’s development, the narrative’s focus on bureaucracy and survival suggests a deep dive into real-world struggles. The setting, Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, was chosen for its stark, windswept landscapes, which mirrored the emotional isolation of the characters .
The film’s 95-minute runtime kept the story tight, avoiding unnecessary subplots. This lean approach amplified its impact, forcing audiences to sit with the characters’ hardships rather than escape into dramatic flourishes. Reviews noted the film’s "unflinching gaze" , a quality that likely stemmed from Uggadóttir’s commitment to realism.
The Netflix Effect
After its festival run, And Breathe Normally found a second life on Netflix. The streaming giant’s acquisition introduced the film to a global audience, though it remained a niche pick rather than a mainstream hit. Its inclusion in Netflix’s 2019 slate of original films was a quiet win for indie cinema, proving that smaller, character-driven stories could still find a home in the streaming era.
Unanswered Questions
Despite its critical success, details about the film’s production remain scarce. There’s no evidence of behind-the-scenes drama, budget struggles, or on-set anecdotes—just a straightforward, well-crafted drama that let its story speak for itself. The lack of tabloid fodder might disappoint those hoping for Hollywood-style gossip, but it aligns with the film’s no-frills ethos.
What is clear is that And Breathe Normally succeeded by doing less, not more. In an era of blockbuster spectacle, its quiet power lingers.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.