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Clutching bats in their muscular hands, the players charge forward, roaring like bloodthirsty beasts.
Fjolnirs clan wins, and Amleth is rewarded for his performance in the game.
So how much of that game is based in historical fact?
Well, the murder-by-head-butt may not be.
But beyond that, its not too far off as far as we know, anyway.
Let my name be known, Oskarson says.
The Icelandic name for the sport isknattleikr which, literally translated, means ball game.
Hurstwics version ofknattleikris now played once a year at the groups annual feast in Massachusetts.
(Its also played in Iceland and at a handful of New England colleges.)
According to Short, in the literary sources, it seems like the ball is pretty hard.
Theres an example where someone throws the ball and it causes the person who is hit to bleed.
Using a leather and cork ball is one concession to the 21st century.
Another is the protective padding players wear at Hurstwic games.
And other than that, theres no rules, Short says.
Theres no goalie; just getting the ball over the line will do.
The problem is getting there.
Oskarson adds that the film treats Amleth and his fellow players as chess pieces for power to play with.
We do not get that sense of games in the Viking age.
Indeed, entire settlements would gather for some good-natured brawling duringknattleikrtournaments.
Theres a reason we called our bookMen of Terrorrather than something more mundane, Oskarson says.
In fact, it was more important than life itself.
Life is not endless.
But if you get a good one,orstiris endless, Oskarson explains.
They seem to appreciate bold action, even when the results arent what they hoped for.
When Oskarson soberly proclaims that Icelanders will eventually forgive Robert Eggers for leavingglimaout ofThe Northman, he seems serious.
But theres a twinkle in his eye that makes you wonder how intense his grudge really is.
William clearly forgot about that, he says with a chuckle.
Oh, yeah, I did forget about that, Short replies, waving away the concern.
Thats not a serious injury.
