Strengur / Tight Lines / Fang fürs Leben

Four young women are following in their father’s footsteps. They are seventh-generation salmon fishers. And as the youngest river guides in the country’s history, they bring people from all over the world to catch wild salmon in Iceland. Andrea, Alexandra, Áslaug, and Arndís grew up on the banks of the Laxá river in Aðaldalur. One summer long, we follow them against the backdrop of a breathtaking natural landscape as they grow ever more confident in the rapids. They learn from their mistakes and wrest enormous salmon from the Laxá, which they release again after taking a photo and entering them in a statistical register. The river is part of their identity, a source of silent power that they treat with respect and care. But as they grow into their roles, an uncertain future looms. The survival of wild salmon in the Atlantic is threatened by fish that escape from offshore salmon farms. But while the situation is worrying, the film offers hope. Andrea, Alexandra, Áslaug, and Arndís are proof that change is possible.