Heartstone (2017): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 9m (129 min)
- Director
- Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Icelandic
- Studio
- Breaking Glass Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
- Director Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
-
Søren Malling as Sven - Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir as Þórdís, Kristján's Mother
- Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir as Hulda, Þór's Mother
- Blær Hinriksson as Kristján
Also Starring in Heartstone
· 6 more- Jónína Þórdís Karlsdóttir Rakel
- Baldur Einarsson Þór
- Katla Njálsdóttir Hanna
- Diljá Valsdóttir Beta
- Rán Ragnarsdóttir Hafdís
- Sveinn Olafur Gunnarsson
More from Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
More films directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, best-rated first: Beautiful Beings, Artun and Whale Valley.
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).
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.
-
IMDb 7.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 84% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 78%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 70 Metascore
User score 5.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 72% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.7 /5
163 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Heartstone Box Office
Heartstone grossed $361,878 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$361.9K
- International
- $361.9K
Heartstone Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Heartstone.
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 Show fewer
- 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?
Movies Like Heartstone
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Young Hearts, Stout-Hearted and Heart.
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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