Norms

Norms is a fictional web series – six ten minute long episodes – shot in Reykjavík, Iceland and Berlin, Germany. It premiered at RVK Feminist Film Festival on January 14th, 2021 and has been released on digital platforms. The series is directed by Júlía Margrét Einarsdóttir and written by Sólveig Johnsen.

Norms follows self-destructive and impulsive Sara who runs away from her life in Reykjavik when her lies finally catch up to her, dramatically ending her troubled relationship and unfulfilling career. But her escape to Berlin, the city of lost souls, is not without its problems. As she struggles to redefine herself in her new home, it becomes clear she might have left her heart back in Iceland.

Artfully weaving the line between comedy and drama, Norms confronts our conceptions of what the life of a 29-year-old Icelander should be with the underlying message that maybe no-one has really got it completely figured out. 

Centring the story around an openly queer protagonist rekindling her lust for life and the diverse group of friends helping her realise her passion, the series challenges stereotypes by normalising rather than idealising.

The project was co-funded by Erasmus+ and the City of Reykjavík. 

Director’s Statement

It’s a passion of ours to tell stories that aren’t told enough. Norms is a story of everyday struggles, but this time told from the perspective of various minorities. In our show however, despite the fact that our heroes are people with different backgrounds, religion, ethnicity and sexuality, we’re not looking at what makes those people different or how they identify as minorities. This is the story of everything that unites them, and unites us all.