The Látrabjarg Rescue by Óskar Gíslason

Reykjavík Maritime Museum

The Látrabjarg Rescue by Óskar Gíslason chronicles the heroic deeds of members of the Rescue Society Brotherhood, who rescued 12 of the 15 shipwrecked men from the British trawler Dhoon that had run aground off Látrabjarg 12 December 1947. The rescuers' feat attracted great attention both in Iceland and abroad. It was soon decided that a film should be created about the feat, which was then made by Óskar Gíslason and the rescuers who acted out the rescue for the cameras in dangerous conditions in Látrabjarg. 

The remarkable coincidence occurred during filming that another ship ran aground nearby and the rescuers had to jump in to respond to the call. Óskar followed them and captured unique images of the rescuers at work in extreme weather on the rocky shore. Óskar Gíslason managed to combine the staged images of the rescuers with the real rescue and create one of the most impressive documentaries in film history, which was released in 1949.

The film will be on display at the Reykjavík Maritime Museum until the spring of 2025.

The event is being held in close collaboration with the National Film Archive of Iceland, which preserves the film. 

The Látrabjarg Rescue - Film Screening

On Museum Night, 7 February, the Reykjavík Maritime Museum began screenings of the film "The Látrabjarg Rescue" by Óskar Gíslason, which was released in 1949. The film will be on display until 8 April 2025.

The Látrab­jarg Res­cue - Film Screen­ing

On Museum Night, 7 February, the Reykjavík Maritime Museum began screenings of the film "The Látrabjarg Rescue" by Óskar Gíslason, which was released in 1949. The film will be on display until 8 April 2025.

The Látrabjarg Rescue - Film Screening