Synopsis

The story of a man who dares to take the risk of living his dreams. 

At the age of 12 Sölvi is a homeless orphan in an isolated and poor parish in the north of Iceland. He dreams of becoming the greatest man in Iceland. Despite his hopeless situation he is determined to make his dream come true. According to the Danish colonial rule, vagrancy is a crime – but Sölvi goes on the road in search of opportunities, education and adventure. He is in love with life, art and beauty. He paints and draws – his creations come alive in his mind. He writes poetry and lays the foundation of his own philosophy.

When Sölvi is taken in by a poor farmer, Loftur, he comes for the first time into contact with a man of some learning. Loftur teaches Sölvi everything he knows – giving Sölvi with the hope that perhaps he will be able to make his dream come true after all. Juliana becomes the love of Sölvi’s life. Juliana has a magical aura – she is as poor and destitute as Sölvi, but despite this and the fact that she is partly paralyzed, Sölvi falls in love. Juliana becomes his muse. Sölvi takes Juliana on the road, carrying her on his back in a bag.

Drawing the attention of the authorities the couple are apprehended and Sölvi is forced to become a farm laborer. Refusing to be tied down, Sölvi is on the road again after a few days - leaving Juliana behind. Arrested again and put in jail, Sölvi is soon released – after taking his punishment of 40 lashes from the whip. Sölvi keeps up his life as a vagabond and when he is jailed for the second time he is sentenced to three years in jail and sent to Copenhagen. When Sölvi returns to Iceland, the authorities seem to have given up on him and he is left to live his life as he chooses. Sölvi now calls himself Solon Islandus – and he has not forgotten his mission to become Iceland’s greatest man. He has plans for a revolution, freeing his countrymen from Danish colonial rule. With all her weak might, Juliana supports her lover on his mission to start a revolution . There is only one person who fails on the mission – Sölvi himself. Sölvi comes to the conclusion that not all his objectives can be obtained. But surely “Iceland’s greatest man” can be an artist and philosopher! This becomes Sölvi’s new aim.