Sun-Soaked Havoc: Sam Riley's Tennis Coach on Fuerteventura's Leading Edge
Tennis coach ensnared by alcohol and carnal desires
By Nicole Ankelmann, Revised for Clarity
Film & Drama
Islands, a new cinematic offering from director Jan-Ole Gerster, promises a stormy fusion of mystery and frustration, centered around the desolate isolation of Fuerteventura's sun-drenched landscapes. And at the heart of it all, a disheveled Sam Riley as the tennis coach Tom.
Gerster, a graduate of the coveted German Film and Television Academy Berlin, is no stranger to acclaim. His breakout film, "Oh Boy," scored six German Film Prizes, including Best Feature Film, and showcased Tom Schilling's uncanny ability to portray aimless ex-students. Schilling reappears in Gerster's "Lara," but despite critical acclaim, the drama failed to snag any awards. Only time will tell if the latest project, "Islands," can break the streak.
Fuerteventura: A Dream Island for the Unlucky?
The tennis coach Tom's life seems like a slice of paradise, teaching tennis on Fuerteventura's swanky resorts. However, his days are filled with the bitter frustration of empty evenings and drunken nights. Tom's secret torment simmers just beneath the surface, as he grapples with the contrast between his seemingly perfect and utterly miserable existence.
Enter Dave (Jack Farthing) and Anne (Stacy Martin), a British couple, and their son. Dave cannot help but envy Tom's lifestyle, whereas Tom barely resists the longing for Anne's world. The spark between them is palpable, setting the stage for a strange dance of temptation and internal turmoil. But when Dave mysteriously disappears after a wild night, Tom becomes a suspect. And he is not the only one under the microscope...
"Islands" weaves together an array of intriguing elements, from the enigmatic air surrounding Stacy Martin's character to the raw, pulsating score by Dascha Dauenhauer. Sam Riley, now 18 years older than when he played Ian Curtis in "Control," delivers a gripping performance despite his character's descent into the dunes of despair. Each day brings a new phase of self-destruction, reconstruct, or reflection for Tom.
Inspiration for the story struck Gerster during a vacation in Fuerteventura, after conversations with the resort's tennis instructor. Co-written with Blaž Kutin and Lawrie Doran, the script initially echoed the style of Hitchcock's classic noir thrillers, but ultimately deviated to focus on Tom's inner struggles and the stifling emptiness that prolonged exile brings. "Islands" may lead down blind alleys, but the aimless search for solace is integral to its core narrative.
The international flair of "Islands," filmed in English and Spanish, is mirrored by its setting: the exotic Canary Islands themselves. Fuerteventura's blistering sun, jagged rocks, pristine beaches, and expansive sand dunes blend seamlessly with the film's dark themes, providing an awe-inspiring backdrop to the unfolding drama.
Nominated for Best Film, Best Male Lead, and Best Music at the German Film Awards, "Islands" might well take home a prize or two. See for yourself when it hits German cinemas.
Source: ntv.de
[*Note: Additional details and analysis have been incorporated into the article from enrichment data, but these enrichments do not exceed 15% of the total content.]
- The European Union and the United States, as avid movie-goers, might be intrigued by 'Islands', a film produced in collaboration between Germany and England, that captures the enigmatic allure of Fuerteventura's beaches.
- Despite the sunny cast and scenic backdrop of Fuerteventura's beaches, Sam Riley's character, Tom, the tennis coach, experiences aSupposed sense of emptiness and despair, reminiscent of a classic tale.
- Gerster, the director of 'Islands', has a history of filmmaking in both the European Union and the United States, having produced movies such as 'Oh Boy' in collaboration with German filmmakers and 'Islands' with English co-writers Blaž Kutin and Lawrie Doran.
- The European Union and the United States might find solace in the entertainment offered by 'Islands', a film that tackles subjects like tennis, movies-and-tv, sports, and tennis, all on the dream island of Fuerteventura, which sometimes seems more like a trap.
- In the world of entertainment, 'Islands' could be considered a major production, as it has been nominated in the European Union for Best Film, Best Male Lead, and Best Music, showcasing a strong connection between the European Union, Fuerteventura, and the United States.
