written by: Michael Glover Smith and Elizabeth Stam
produced by: Michael Glover Smith, Elizabeth Stam, and Aaron Werthheimer
directed by: Michael Glover Smith
rated: not rated
runtime: 89 min.
U.S. release date: March 6, 2026
Writer/director Michael Glover Smith must have felt the same way I did about Hekla, the character played by Elizabeth Stam in his last feature, 2022’s “Relative“. She was an exuberant jolt in a stellar ensemble cast, and if there was any character I wanted more of, it was her Hekla. His latest film, “Hekla,” offers just that by yanking viewers along with the titular character, played again by Stam (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Smith), as we follow her through one busy day in the Windy City. She’s a dreamer, a doer, and a self-believer in a dramedy that is essentially an ode to pursuing one’s passion, while also taking a few poignant stances on relationships.
The film opens on a dreamlike vision of Hekla Gudmunsdottir (Elizabeth Stam), bejeweled and doused in shades of pink and blue, as she slowly places a golden crown on her head. It is, in fact, a dream, and when Hekla awakens from it on the morning of March 23rd, 2026, she calmly starts the day like so many of us do…by playing rock, paper, scissors against herself in bed. The film’s Narrator (Wendy Robie) tells us that this “zen-like mind-clearing exercise” is how Hekla starts every day, aiming to make both hands win simultaneously. It’s a comical and clever exercise that establishes how confident she is in her own skin, but it’s also a reminder that, while we can’t win at everything, continuous attempts build resilience.
After an early morning run along the Chicago lakefront, Hekla begins her day by taking public transit downtown, carrying at least four bags. It doesn’t take long to figure out that Hekla is an actor, and on this day, she has four auditions lined up (each bag carries a wardrobe change), which will require her to scurry all over the city. That sounds like a full day, but that’s not all. She will also keep a 10 am breakfast date with her soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, Tyler (Mary Tilden), and another date later on in the evening with a possible/potential future girlfriend, Amina (Sadieh Rifai). In between all that, Hekla will also make it to a scheduled appointment with a photographer for some new headshots. Somehow she’ll still have enough energy to make it to Cunneen’s later on in the evening for the Backroom Shakespeare Project, where she’ll perform a shortened version of the Scottish Play.
What do we learn by spending a jam-packed day with this young woman? Well, we learn that this is probably a normal pace for Hekla and that Stam is highly endearing, engaging, and entertaining to watch.
“Hekla” is divided into five acts, each of which breaks down a portion of her hectic, eventful day. What we find within these acts definitely feels personal, albeit funny, awkward, and vulnerable. It’s as if, in their collaboration, both Smith and Stam (who also produced the film) decided to bring moments from their own lives to the screenplay. Whether it’s hard, honest conversations about relationships, quirky audition stories, or just capturing a day in the life of someone pursuing their passion full-time, it all feels like it’s coming from a place of experience. Both of them have written characters and situations that resonate and feel like people we know. While some of the characters Hekla encounters are perhaps heightened for comedic effect, they come across as the kind of stranger-than-fiction encounters we’ve all had at one time or another.
From start to finish, Stam demonstrates an undeniably impressive range in her performance as Hekla, with convincing vulnerability, infectious comic timing, and a strong physical presence on screen. She carries the film confidently and effortlessly, and is a real pleasure to watch. Smith knows this and provides space for Stam to share her talents with viewers. I’m certainly looking forward to what Stam does next.
Most of the film is shot in crisp black-and-white, with moments of color accentuated throughout; these are used when Hekla is either performing or wrapped up in an internal vision of herself. The cinematography by Jose Perez is striking, especially in how it captures the city, focusing on ground-level views of downtown and outlying neighborhoods frequented by local residents. None of this is a surprise to anyone who’s seen Smith’s previous films, all of which have a knack for avoiding typical Chicago iconography.
Chicago has long been called a great city for young actors to get their start and hone their chops, and “Hekla” offers a chance to personify the kind of artist who’s out in the Second City doing it. It’s not easy, nor is it for just anyone, and it’s often a pursuit not many understand. “Hekla” understands that and is a tribute to the artists out there pursuing their passion.
RATING: ***
“Hekla” started its festival run earlier this year, picking up an assortment of awards along the way, and will be shown on Monday, July 27th at the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove, IL, for the After Hours Film Society, where yours truly will moderate a Q&A with Michael Glover Smith, Elizabeth Stam, as well as hair/makeup artist, Heather Vogt, actress Brookelyn Hebert, and cinematographer Jose Perez.
