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Drama

Heartstone (2017): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Heartstone (2017) movie poster

Heartstone is a 2017 drama directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, starring Søren Malling as Sven, Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir and Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir. It runs 2 hours 9 minutes and earned $361,878 worldwide. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
worldwide gross
$361.9K
Echo Score
78
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Heartstone (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 9m (129 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
Icelandic
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Heartstone About?

The premise of Heartstone without spoilers.

A young man finds himself caught between friendship and romance as he grapples with first love and unrequited feelings. When his best friend pursues another relationship, he must confront his own emotions and decide where his heart truly belongs, navigating the complicated boundaries of connection and desire.

Heartstone Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • iceland
  • friendship between boys
  • coming of age
  • teenage boy
  • gay
  • gay teenager
  • nature
  • sexuality
  • homophobia
  • unrequited love
  • closeted gay
  • bullying
+38 more
  • boy
  • village
  • alcoholic father
  • abusive father
  • summer vacation
  • icelandic horses
  • gay protagonist
  • fishing
  • rejection
  • camping
  • father son relationship
  • swimming pool
  • mother daughter conflict
  • mother daughter relationship
  • masturbation
  • killing an animal
  • caught masturbating
  • brother sister relationship
  • boy wearing makeup
  • truth or dare
  • suicide attempt
  • male masturbation
  • family relationships
  • friendship
  • bedwetting
  • horseback riding
  • adolescence
  • boy girl relationship
  • boy boy relationship
  • sexual discovery
  • first kiss
  • abusive husband
  • child abuse
  • father beats son
  • first sexual experience
  • pistol
  • first snow
  • hospitalization
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Cast & crew

Heartstone Cast & Characters

Søren Malling leads the cast as Sven, with Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir as Þórdís, Kristján's Mother and Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir as Hulda, Þór's Mother. Directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

More films directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, best-rated first: Beautiful Beings, Artun and Whale Valley.

Full filmography
Ratings

Heartstone Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Heartstone 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

78 /100

Heartstone Echo Score Breakdown

Heartstone offers a thoughtfully crafted coming-of-age drama marked by strong performances and striking visual composition. Critics consistently praise the young cast’s authentic emotional expression and the film’s atmospheric cinematography, while some note pacing issues and occasional narrative repetition. The setting’s evocative styling and measured direction reinforce the film’s reflective tone, even as a few scenes feel unduly prolonged or underedited. Overall, Heartstone delivers a poignant, visually engaging exploration of youth with a few structural unevennesses that slightly temper its lasting impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Heartstone’s cinematography and visual design stand out for their atmospheric framing and clear-eyed style. Multiple reviews highlight the film’s effective production design and immersive landscapes, while occasional comments on unnecessary shots suggest room for tighter editing. The measured color palette and thoughtful shot composition contribute to a distinctive visual identity that largely succeeds in reinforcing the narrative tone.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, the young cast delivers consistently nuanced and authentic performances that underpin the film’s emotional core. Reviews frequently note the sensitive portrayals and the convincing chemistry between the leads, even as some observers cite uneven depth among supporting roles and discomfort with certain scenes. Overall, the heartfelt acting and resonant emotional beats remain a key strength throughout.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story and flow, Heartstone presents a poignant coming-of-age narrative with engaging thematic depth, though its pacing occasionally feels uneven. Critics commend the film’s emotional resonance and bold narrative turn at the conclusion, while some remarks highlight repetitive sequences and an overextended focus on a single character. Despite these structural imbalances, the underlying plot retains compelling engagement and thoughtful exploration of youth.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When considering the sensory experience, the film’s atmospheric soundtrack and immersive sound design complement its striking visual style. Reviews highlight the evocative setting and consistent mood created through nuanced audio cues and a subtle score, enhancing the narrative’s reflective quality. There are no significant critiques of the sensory elements, and the cohesive audio-visual pairing firmly establishes Heartstone’s immersive world.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch appeal, Heartstone offers a rich emotional landscape that may reward a second viewing, though its deliberate pacing and repetitive sections could limit broader replay value. Some viewers find the poignant performances and thematic depth resonate on subsequent viewings, while others note that the film’s reflective tone may feel less engaging over time. Overall, the enduring emotional impact remains moderate rather than compellingly repeatable.

Box office

Heartstone Box Office

Heartstone grossed $361,878 worldwide.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$361.9K

International
$361.9K
Videos

Heartstone Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Heartstone.

Heartstone - Official Trailer
Details

Heartstone Also Known As

18 alternative titles, including “Heartstone: Corazones de Piedra” and “Coração de Pedra”.

Also known as
  • Heartstone: Corazones de Piedra
  • Coração de Pedra
  • Heartstone, un été islandais
  • Хартстон
  • Nehéz szívvel
  • Gençlik Başımda Duman
  • Herzstein
  • Heartstone, corazones de piedra
  • Каменно сърце
  • 하트스톤
  • Serce z kamienia
  • 心之石
+6 more
  • Corações de Pedra
  • Каменное сердце
  • Kamenné srdce
  • לב של אבן
  • ハートストーン
  • 青春寂光物語

Seen Heartstone?

FAQ

Heartstone FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Heartstone, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Heartstone?

Heartstone runs 2 hours 9 minutes (129 minutes).

When was Heartstone released?

Heartstone was released on September 29, 2017.

Who directed Heartstone?

Heartstone was directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson.

More films by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

Who is in the cast of Heartstone?

Heartstone stars Søren Malling as Sven, Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir as Þórdís, Kristján's Mother and Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir as Hulda, Þór's Mother, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Heartstone make at the box office?

Heartstone grossed $361,878 worldwide.

How is Heartstone rated?

Heartstone has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.

Does Heartstone have a post-credit scene?

No. Heartstone has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Heartstone in?

The original language of Heartstone is Icelandic.

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