Hvalreki 2009

A 45-minute protest speech edited down to 4 minutes based on the tone of the speakers, the emotion of the sign language interpreter and the crowds' reaction. Spoken Icelandic and Icelandic Sign Language are recognized as two different languages, with approximately 320,000 people speaking Icelandic and 200 + people using Icelandic Sign as their primary language. This video is about the visual and audible way that communication happens. To be deaf is to be unable to hear and to protest is also to raise awareness to those who do not hear. The title Hvalreki means stranded whale in Icelandic and an English comparable translation would be Windfall. The irony of a stranded whale is a dying beast or food for a hungry village, bad and good can come at the same time.