Dark and dry (much like Iceland itself, I guess), the Nordic film 101 Reykjavík offers a strange look at modern relationships: In this case, a love triangle among a disaffected Icelandic twentysomething named Hylnur (Hilmir Snær Guðnason), his mother (Hanna María Karlsdóttir), and their bisexual lover (Spanish vixen Victoria Abril).

It's a strange and distant tale that would only appear on Jerry Springer in America but comes off as quirky and cute when presented from the cold Nordic perspective. Hylnur still lives at home, and when mom brings in her flamenco instructor Lola (the Kinks' famous song of the same name -- about a she-male -- plays throughout the film and in the most bizarre of contexts), things get dicey. One drunken night, Lola and Hylnur get it on -- and Lola ends up pregnant. And guess what: Mom and Lola want to keep their baby.

The side plots are equally kooky, and though Baltasar Kormákur's strange trip could have come off low-budget and cheesy (and by all rights, it should have), it doesn't. It's got a very sophisticated look -- complete with helicopter shots, excellent lighting, glorious Icelandic vistas, and plenty of hot Icelandic women, too.

Pegging the tale as a Hollywood genre flick is impossible and probably irresponsible -- it diminishes the clever insanity that 101 Reykjavík generates in all of 82 minutes before the credits roll. If you like your movies with only the barest of attachment to reality, 101 Reykjavík is for you.