Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a 2020 American comedy film directed by David Dobkin, written by Andrew Steele and Will Ferrell and starring Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, Dan Stevens and Demi Lovato. The film is set during a fictional version of the contest and follows two Icelandic singers as they are given the chance to represent their country at the contest.
The film was initially scheduled for a May 2020 release to coincide with the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, however the release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released on Netflix on June 26, 2020.
Ferrell did research for the film while attending the 2018 contest in Lisbon.
Melodifestivalen veteran Molly Sandén (under the pseudonym My Marianne, which is Sandén's actual middle name) provides the singing voice for McAdams' character.
It was nominated for 2 People's Choice Awards in 2020, a Grammy Award and a Critics' Choice Award in 2021, and was nominated for Best Original Song for the breakout hit "Húsavík (My Hometown)" at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Plot[]
In Húsavík, a small town in Iceland, childhood friends Lars Erickssong (a fisherman's son) and Sigrit Ericksdottir form the singing duet called "Fire Saga". Their dream is to one day represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest.
When most of the contestants of the Icelandic final - including the winner - are killed in a boat explosion (which was later revealed to be pre-meditated) during a post-competition party, Fire Saga are the only survivors (as they declined the invitation) and get their chance by default to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
The duo are considered the underdogs, with Russia as the overwhelming favorite. It's up to them to prove to Europe that they have what it takes to win.
Cast[]
- Will Ferrell as Lars Erickssong, Erick's son
- Rachel McAdams as Sigrit Ericksdottir
- Pierce Brosnan as Erick Erickssong, Lars' father
- Dan Stevens as Alexander Lemtov, a Russian singer and a rival to Fire Saga (singing voice by Erik Mjönes)
- Demi Lovato as Katiana, a contestant in the Icelandic national final
- Graham Norton as a fictional version of himself
- Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Neils Brongus
- Björn Hlynur Haraldsson
- Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir
- Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Johans
- Hannes Óli Ágústsson as Olaf Yohansson, a Húsavík resident obsessed with the song "Ja Ja Ding Dong"
Featuring cameos from Eurovision alumni including Loreen, John Lundvik, Alexander Rybak, Conchita Wurst, Netta Barzilai, Ana Odobescu, Salvador Sobral, Jamala, Elina Nechayeva, Jessy Matador and Bilal Hassani.
Trivia[]
- Wiwibloggs founder William Lee Adams makes an appearance as a commentator during the contest.
- 2019 Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence was offered a cameo role in the film, but turned it down as he was already committed to his tour of Europe and the Netherlands.
- The success of the movie inspired the town of Húsavík (the main setting of the film) to open a Eurovision museum.
- Ágústsson reprised his character as the Icelandic spokesperson during the grand final of the 2021 contest in Rotterdam. He attempted to give the 12 points to his favorite song "Ja Ja Ding Dong", but reluctantly in the end awarded Iceland's top score to Switzerland. When Ágústsson first did the joke in one of the rehearsals, host Chantal Janzen couldn't stop laughing for a full minute, so by the time the live show came around she knew what was coming.
- The parents of 2022 Icelandic representatives Systur could be heard singing "Heyr Himnasmiður" every time the elves appeared in the movie.
- Though the contest in the movie was held in Edinburgh, the arena featured was the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow. The performances for the competition were filmed during the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv.