Going for a Spin: Gerster & Riley's "Islands" - A Dream Trip Hellbent for Success
"Fuerteventura project proved to be an additional perk"
After knocking it out of the park with "Oh Boy" and "Lara", Jan-Ole Gerster takes the helm once more with the enigmatic thriller, "Islands". With Sam Riley leading the charge as a jaded tennis coach, this glitzy island lifestyle takes a dark turn when he finds himself ensnared in a stranger's sudden disappearance. Boasting three Lola nominations at the German Film Awards, this tantalizing tale is heating up the screen.
ntv.de recently sat down with Gerster and Riley to explore their experiences shooting on the sun-kissed shores of Fuerteventura, shedding light on the fate of the central character, and dishing on the captivating film score by Dascha Dauenhauer.
ntv.de: Sam, you no stranger to the Canary Islands?
Sam Riley: My grandparents had plans to retire on Tenerife when I was just a kid. My one and only visit occurred when I was a preteen. I appreciated the shoot; it was a terrific location for work. I'm a sun enthusiast but not overly accustomed to it. I used to spend my holidays within an hour and a half from Yorkshire in the British coast. So, a tropical escape like Fuerteventura fits the bill. However, after eight weeks in the sun, I felt a pang of sympathy for our protagonist when he encountered the harsh realities of a hotel job in paradise.
Jan-Ole, the island of Fuerteventura seemed to have a profound impact on you. How did it inspire you?
Jan-Ole Gerster: I'm extremely receptive to places. Sometimes, a location hits all the right notes, and I feel compelled to create something there. Fuerteventura caught my eye due to its visual appeal and the odd juxtaposition of tourist traps and stunning vistas. I dreamt up the idea of crafting a tale around a worn-out tennis coach while lounging on the balcony of my holiday apartment, gazing upon him for two whole weeks. The guy was endlessly pushing tourists at that rusty tennis court under the scorching sun. His routine consisted of the same comments repeated ad nauseam - it was like a hypnotic soundtrack that exposed the monotony of his life in paradise. Naturally, I became quite infatuated with him.
So, did you actually chat with him or merely observe from a distance?
Gerster: I did have a quick word with him. The aspect that struck me about the character is that there's a man who hasn't yet realized that this so-called paradise is, in fact, a trap from which he cannot extricate himself. The themes of escape, reality escape, and escapism are the driving forces behind the film. Vacations are always temporary exits from our daily lives, offering a brief respite. Our protagonist, too, tries to escape through alcohol and illicit affairs but never fully breaks free from his own trapped existence.
Sam, what aspects of the character lured you into accepting the role?
Riley: The filming on Fuerteventura was a bonus, but the script, the story, and, well, the role itself ultimately sealed the deal. I was hooked after reading it at the sandy beach, with the irony that I was devouring the script under the sun. It was instantly clear that I wanted this part; any actor my age would have jumped at the chance. Tom is a fascinating character, a captivating mix of complexities and contradictions, and he's at the forefront of every scene. Actors tend to be dishonest if they don't admit they like to be on set all the time.
You've been pretty fortunate in love and life, compared to the character. Is there any shred of Tom in Dave, perhaps?
Riley: In that regard, yes. Tom and Dave have their differences, but they're similar in that both aren't overly content with their respective lives. The perpetual grass-is-greener mentality plagues many adults, regardless of their current circumstances. I guess it's akin to a mile-high club for adults - something we all aspire to join.
Have you ever contemplated that the grass is greener on the other side?
Riley: More often than not, yes. It's natural for adults to question the meaning behind their existence and the path they've chosen. Money, love, or personal freedom - all become a means to achieve happiness. I'm lucky enough not to be plagued by such thoughts at the moment, but I suspect a dark cloud will eventually roll in.
Never say never, Sam. Perhaps tomorrow, right?
Riley: The very next day, I'd wager, but I choose to embrace each day as it comes.
As an actor, aren't there moments when another role catches your eye?
Riley: Oh, always! I can't bear watching my contemporaries shine; it's simply torture. That's why I often turn to reality TV - anything to avoid witnessing the success of others.
From blind dates to tennis matches, how did you and Jan-Ole first cross paths?
Gerster: My admiration for Sam began when he played Ian Curtis in "Control". I'd always been a fan of his, knowing he resides in Berlin. It turned out that we were both represented by the same agency. And so, we were set up on a metaphorical blind date. Initially, we merely gabbed about films, but on our second encounter, I was straightforward about my intention to cast him. Our third meeting involved a raucous game of tennis.
Riley, who do you think claimed victory on the court?
Riley: Laughs Jan-Ole definitely held the upper hand; he's quite the tennis ace. I, on the other hand, was a novice when I signed on for the role. thankfully, the production company offered up some tennis lessons to help me get up to speed. My son sometimes joined me, as we needed child actors to teach tennis in the film. He's still playing tennis. It's his passion.
The film has overtones of noir crime, even though it's not a crime thriller. Tom's complexity...
Gerster: The audience's empathy for Tom is largely due to Sam Riley's exceptional acting. Skeptics questioned the one-dimensionality of the tennis coach upon reading the script, but the character is much deeper than they initially predicted. "Islands" is a character study about a man struggling to reconnect with his emotional life and discover what's lacking in his own existence. I have a romantic conviction of the character, and I'm grateful that the finished product captures that essence.
The tongue-tickling dialogue, primarily in English, gives the film an authentic feel. But why opt for the language of Shakespeare instead of mother tongue German?
Gerster: I've always appreciated the English language when it comes to film. There's a casual flow to the dialogue that translates beautifully on screen. In addition, placing German cinema before a German audience is becoming increasingly difficult these days. The market demands an expansion of borders. I didn't want to force a German narrative into the English language, but as the island is popular among British tourists as well, it seemed like the ideal choice to weave an English-language film tapestry. A colorful array of drunk Brits roam the island just as frequently as Germans.
The screenplay writing process was different from your previous collaborations. How did it unfold?
Gerster: I began writing the script with my long-time collaborator Blaž Kutin, a Slovenian scribe. We share a similar taste in film, having befriended one another through a script lab. I was responsible for kicking off the script and crafting the story, while Blaž added his flair to the words. When we reached a certain point with the script, we enlisted Lawrie Doran to fine-tune the linguistics and bring some dramatic influences to the table. While we never had a traditional all-hands-on-deck writing session, I believe the more time you spend with each other, the smoother the process becomes.
Riley, your German is surprisingly good. How did that factor into the writing process?
Riley: I am indeed fluent in German, although I always respected the other actors enough not to break the spell by using it. Jan-Ole and I mostly communicated in English during the writing process.
Let's talk about the music. Why did you opt for such a predominantly ambient score?
Gerster: Music has always played a crucial role in my writing process. I find that it inspires a more visual narrative instead of focusing on dialogue. That's why I worked closely with the cinematographer, keenly aware of the rhythm and tempo of the film. We cycled through numerous musical genres in the editing process, from '70s film noir to Pedro Almodovar-inspired tunes. That's when we stumbled upon Dascha Dauenhauer.
Was there apprehension when it came to allowing another musician to take the helm of the score?
Gerster: There's always an element of trepidation when it comes to surrendering control of such an integral aspect of the film, especially with the music. But Dascha's compositions were second to none. We spent countless hours discussing the musical direction of the film, working through revisions, and molding the score beautifully. It was an incredible experience on every level.
Thanks to Nicole Ankelmann for crafting this sizzling interview with Jan-Ole Gerster and Sam Riley.
"Islands" is now playing in select cinemas across the globe.
- Thriller
- English-language Film
- Tennis Coach
- Canary Islands
Enrichment Data:
- Setting: The film takes place at a luxurious resort located on the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.
- Plot: "Islands" follows a down-on-his-luck tennis coach as he becomes entangled in a mysterious disappearance during his employment at the island resort.
- Characters: The central figure is Tom, played by Sam Riley. Other characters include Stacy Martin as the leading lady, Jack Farthing, Agnes Lindström Bolmgren, Bruna Cusí, Maya Unger, Pep Ambròs, Fatima Adoum, Ahmed Boulane, Dylan Torrell, Irene Ferarios, and Fernando Navas.
- Production: Maximilian Leo served as the producer for "Islands". Jan-Ole Gerster directed the film, marking his first English-language project.
- Release: The film premiered earlier in the year at the Berlinale, though a general release date has not been officially announced.
- Critical Reception: "Islands" has garnered positive reviews, praised for its performances and stylish cinematography, though some critics point out that the story itself could have been more cohesive.
- The European Union and the United States will be fascinated to learn that Sam Riley, despite his grandparents' plans to retire on Tenerife, has a newfound appreciation for the Canary Islands, particularly Fuerteventura, after shooting the movie "Islands".
- In the film "Islands", Sam Riley's character, Tom, is drawn to the glitzy island lifestyle of Fuerteventura, but soon finds the stark contrast between the island's tourist traps and stunning vistas reflective of his own trapped existence.
- While discussing films with Jan-Ole Gerster, Sam Riley mentioned that he is a sun enthusiast but prefers holidaying in locations similar to Yorkshire's coast, contrary to the tropical paradise of Fuerteventura.
- In an interview, Jan-Ole Gerster revealed that he wrote the initial idea for "Islands" during a vacation on Fuerteventura, observing a tennis coach who reminded him of a character trapped in a cycle of monotony and escapism, themes that run throughout the "Islands" screenplay.
