Husavik, the Icelandic village dreaming of an Oscar

Husavik, the Icelandic village dreaming of an Oscar

REYKJAVIK (AFP) - In just a year the small Icelandic village of Husavik has shot to fame as the setting of the kitsch musical comedy "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" -- and now it dreams of winning an Oscar.

The song "Husavik - My Home Town", a ballad from the movie sung by Swedish pop singer Molly Sanden, has been nominated for an Academy Award for best original song.

In the quiet little harbour town near the Arctic Circle, the 2,300 residents are in a tizzy ahead of Sunday’s Oscars festivities, which will feature a performance of the tune by Sanden recorded in the village itself.

"The atmosphere is filled with excitement," town mayor Kristjan Thor Magnusson told AFP.

"People are anxiously waiting."

With just days to go, Husavik’s main road has been painted red so that residents can also experience the feeling of walking the red carpet, like Hollywood’s biggest stars will do in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Welcome publicity 

The town has until now been known for its whale watching tours, drawing tourists almost guaranteed of seeing one of the massive creatures.

But that’s all changed now.

"The Story of Fire Saga" is about two musicians, played by Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, who end up representing Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest after all of the country’s music stars perish in a boating inferno.

The ballad, with lyrics about the town’s "gentle people", whales and Northern Lights, is the climax of the movie, performed by McAdams’ character to Sanden’s tracks.

While the movie didn’t win the praise of critics, the song has most certainly won the hearts of Husavik locals.

"It’s become the town’s anthem since the movie came out," Magnusson said.

"People all over the place can relate to that type of feeling, of either being homesick or loving your hometown."

The town even launched a whimsical online campaign in early March, "An Oskar for Husavik", in the hopes of seeing the town honoured with an Academy Award.

But Husavik’s dream doesn’t look set to come true.

"Speak Now" from "One Night in Miami", written and sung by Leslie Odom Jr, is widely predicted to win on Sunday.

Husavik isn’t giving up hope just yet though.

"I think we can win," says Icelandic actor Sigurdur Illugason, who has lived in the village for 40 years and who plays the role of Oskar Oskarsson in two of the campaign videos with more than 90,000 views on YouTube.

"I’m trying to keep both feet on the ground: there is, of course, a chance to win but I’m not expecting it," says Hinrik Wohler, who’s in charge of tourism for the town.

Still, he says all the media attention is welcome publicity.

"The exposure and everything around the movie and the Oscars have been so enormous for us that I can’t be disappointed if we don’t win."