The Love that Remains (Astin sem eftir er)

In this most enchanting, playful dramatic comedy, Magnús (Sverrir Gudnason), a fisherman living in the southeast of Iceland, and Anna (Saga Garðarsdóttir), a visual artist, are in a transition phase, after understanding that their marriage has come to an end. Don’t expect rancorous accusations and loud arguments though. The Love that Remains is a gentle and whimsical film that favours humour and invention to reveal the absurdity of the very notion of a family “falling apart”.

For his fourth and lightest opus, the gifted Icelandic filmmaker directs his own children in the roles of Magnús and Anna’s three kids. They are naturals. Rather, their dad make them inhabit these fictional roles in a way that only trust and familiarity allows.

And with a stunning lucidity, he masterfully edits this unusual mix of intimacy, nature’s splendour and profound emotional expressions. In its making and its content, The Love that Remains is, indeed, an ode to family.

This screening is supported by the Embassy of Iceland and the Embassy of Sweden in Ireland.

Cork International Film Festival is delighted to return to its Principal Venue, The Arc Cinema on North Main St, Cork, for its 70th Festival edition, Thursday 6th to Sunday 16th November 2025.

The Arc Cinema Cork is home to The GATE Screen — a space dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of the beloved former Gate Cinema — and an ideal spot for meeting fellow festival goers in between screenings. The GATE Screen features luxurious double sofa seats and tables, creating an intimate and sophisticated viewing experience. It is dedicated to showcasing arthouse films, including independent and local productions, foreign and Irish language titles throughout the year.