The Guardian's review covers The Fires, a new Icelandic disaster-romance film directed by Ugla Hauksdóttir in her feature debut. The story follows volcanologist Anna (Vigdís Hrefna Pálsdóttir), who suspects Iceland's separate volcanic systems are connected to one vast underground magma lake, putting Reykjavik at risk, while officials downplay the threat for fear of harming tourism. Alongside the disaster plot, Anna begins an affair with a Danish photographer, Thomas (Pilou Asbaek), complicating both her marriage and her efforts to be taken seriously.

The reviewer praises the film as scientifically plausible and visually impressive, with strong chemistry between Pálsdóttir and Asbaek and a striking, eerie orchestral score by composer Herdís Stefánsdóttir. Despite leaning on familiar clichés from both the disaster and romance genres, the combination of committed performances, atmospheric music and dramatic Icelandic landscapes make it an engaging and well-crafted overall package.