Îles flottantes (English: Floating Islands) is a 2001 Dutch tragicomedy film written for the screen and directed by Nanouk Leopold, in her directorial debut, produced by Stienette Bosklopper. It stars Maria Kraakman, Manja Topper, Halina Reijn, Leo Hogenboom and Gillis Biesheuvel, and it follows the dysfunctional lives of three best friends who all just turned thirty and struggle with giving meaning to their lives. The film is a stand-alone sequel to Leopold's graduation film, Weekend (1998).
Îles flottantes was made as part of the No More Heroes, an initiative created by Motel Films and the VPRO for upcoming filmmakers to create low-budget feature films in collaboration with the Netherlands Film Fund. The film was first shown at 2001's International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it competed for the Tiger Award.
Contents
Cast
Maria Kraakman as Kaat
Manja Topper as Sacha
Halina Reijn as Isa
Leo Hogenboom as ARBO-man
Gillis Biesheuvel as Boris
Jacob Derwig as Peer
Leopold Witte as Max
Annemarie Prins as Grandmother
Aat Geelen as Gijs
Production
Nanouk Leopold during her last year of her studies realized she wanted to revisit the characters from her 1998's graduation film, Weekend, and was approached by Circe Films and producer Stienette Bosklopper shortly after her graduation. Under the project's working title ‘Meisjes van dertig’ (girls from thirty), she was contacted by Motel Films and VPRO for their No More Heroes project, an initiative for upcoming filmmakers to fund and create low-budget feature films with funding by the Netherlands Film Fund. It was partially filmed in and around the street Leopold grew up in.
Release
Îles flottantes had its world premiere at the 2001's International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it competed for the Tiger Award.
Reception
The film was received mostly positive by critics although they found the film fairly hermetic.