Streaming Inaccessibility for 1984 Viking Film ‘When the Raven Flies’

The acclaimed 1984 Icelandic Viking film, “When the Raven Flies,” is a notable example of a movie that is nearly impossible to stream in a decent format. Directed by Hrafn Gunnlaugsson, the film is currently accessible only through a low-resolution, cropped upload on YouTube, highlighting the challenges of digital preservation for certain classics.

Film’s Legacy and Current Status

“When the Raven Flies” was selected as Iceland’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 1984 Academy Awards. Despite this honor and its recognition by /Film as one of the best Viking movies, the film exists online in a 480p presentation that is far from the director’s original vision. This situation underscores the precarious state of many films that have not undergone digital restoration.

A Unique Take on the Viking Genre

Set in the 9th century, the film follows an Irishman named Gestur (Jakob Þór Einarsson) who seeks revenge on the Vikings who killed his parents. The movie is noted for its unique inspiration, drawing clear parallels to Akira Kurosawa’s “Yojimbo” and the subsequent Spaghetti Westerns, leading to its classification as a “Cod Western.” A distinguishing feature is its combat, which primarily involves thrown knives rather than the epic sword fights typical of the genre, a choice considered historically plausible for the era.

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