100 mins | Benedikt Erlingsson | Iceland | 2018 | PG

Iceland’s Benedikt Erlingsson (Of Horses and Men) winningly mixes absurdist comedy and tense thriller, with Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir as a fearless eco-warrior juggling environmental action and foster motherhood.

Funny – in the way Halla exploits the invisibility of middle-aged womanhood – suspenseful and as spectacular as any film shot in Iceland, Woman at War is further graced by the wittiest of musical soundtracks, performed by an Icelandic oompah band and Ukrainian vocal trio within the movie, standing by even as Halla aims her crossbow at pylons or scampers across the highlands, pursued by drones.

“Is there anything rarer than an intelligent feel-good film that knows how to tackle urgent global issues with humor as well as a satisfying sense of justice? Look no further than Woman at War, Benedikt Erlingsson’s gloriously Icelandic (for lack of a better adjective), near-perfect follow-up to Of Horses and Men.” — Jay Weissberg, Variety