Booze-Soaked Dreams and Murky Truths: Tom's Tale on Fuerteventura
Tennis coach entangled in alcohol and inappropriate desires, compromising professional conduct.
German film director Jan-Ole Gerster graces us with his third cinema project, "Islands," following the success of "Oh Boy" and "Lara." In this production, Sam Riley, our focal character, portrays a listless tennis coach residing on Fuerteventura, entangled in the mystery of a tourist's vanishing spouse.
Do you remember "Oh Boy," Gerster's celebrated graduation film that earned six German Film Awards? The charming Tom Schilling played the unengaged ex-student Niko. Schilling reprised his role in "Lara," as the offspring of the film’s titular character, portrayed by Corinna Harfouch. Alas, "Lara" missed snatching the German Film Award. Let us wait and witness whether "Islands" meets a different fate upon its theatrical release. For the lead role of Tom, Gerster selected Sam Riley, and the film was filmed in both English and Spanish, for a German cinematic experience embellished with local flair.
Fuerteventura: Paradise Lost?
Tom grapples with an "ideal" life as a tennis coach on Fuerteventura, engulfed by discontent beneath his bubbly exterior. The lavish, seaside resort caters to affluent guests and their progeny during the day, while he spends his evenings drowning his sorrows in alcohol. On the surface, Tom's life resembles a tropical idyll, but his internal turmoil paints a starkly different picture. This comes to light with the arrival of the Maguire family, as he is assigned to coach their son, Dawson (Dylan Torrell). The magnetism between Tom and Anne (Stacy Martin), the alluring wife, intensifies his longing for her husband’s life. The chemistry between them escalates further as Tom develops quasi-fatherly feelings for the boy. However, after a chaotic night of partying, Dave (Jack Farthing) vanishes, leaving Tom in the spotlight as the prime suspect.
"Islands" offers an array of enticing elements that keep the viewers hooked. The shrouded enigma lurking around Stacy Martin's character creates suspense, and Sam Riley's timeless charm doesn't dwindle even as he stumbles through another alcohol-induced stupor. The scorching sun, rugged rocks, pristine beaches, and endless sand dunes of Fuerteventura weave a unique, atmospheric narrative for the film. Furthermore, the emotive score by Dascha Dauenhauer intensifies the striking cinematography by Juan Sarmiento G.
The inspiration for the story can be traced back to Gerster's vacation in Fuerteventura and his conversations with the resort's tennis coach. He penned the script with Blaž Kutin, who was also involved in "Lara," and Lawrie Doran. The plot bears similarities to a noir-style Hitchcock thriller, yet it takes a deeper plunge into Tom's emotional abyss and the bleakness of his life away from home. "Islands" leads us to numerous dead ends as it deliberately constructs false paths before arriving at the inevitable conclusion. This narrative choice may be criticized as misguided, but it appears designed to emphasize the movie's central theme.
"Islands" encompasses various film genres to create a compelling narrative that echoes a deceiving escape to Fuerteventura. Riley's remarkable portrayal of Tom highlights his tumultuous journey as he repeatedly spirals, rises, and reflects. The film has been recognized at the 2025 German Film Awards (Lola Awards), with nominations in the categories of:
- Best Feature Film
- Best Actor for Sam Riley
- Best Sound Design
- Best Score
These nominations nodded to the film's merit in both artistic expression and technical craftsmanship[3][4][5].
"Islands" is currently screening in German cinemas.
- Cinema
- Drama
- Film
- Fuerteventura
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Canary Islands
The European Union and the United States, along with the local Canary Islands, will have the opportunity to experience "Islands," a movie that delves into the life of a discontented tennis coach in Fuerteventura, played by Sam Riley. This production from German film director Jan-Ole Gerster, dubbed as his third cinema project, has been filmed in both English and Spanish to infuse local flair into the German cinematic experience.
Inspired by the director's vacation in Fuerteventura and conversations with the resort's tennis coach, "Islands" narrates a captivating mystery with similarities to a Hitchcock thriller. The movie weaves an intricate tale against the backdrop of Fuerteventura's pristine beaches, rugged rocks, and sand dunes, creating a unique atmosphere that is further enhanced by Dascha Dauenhauer's emotive score and Juan Sarmiento G.'s striking cinematography.
"Islands" has been recognized at the 2025 German Film Awards, earning nominations for Best Feature Film, Best Actor (for Sam Riley), Best Sound Design, and Best Score. The movie offers a gripping drama as Riley portrays Tom's tumultuous journey, filled with spirals, rises, and reflections, making it a must-see for cinephiles and sports enthusiasts alike, especially those interested in tennis.
Fans of movies-and-tv entertainment and sports can catch "Islands" in German cinemas, as it encompasses various film genres to create a compelling narrative that echoes a deceiving escape to Fuerteventura. The story's mystery and thriller elements, coupled with the drama and tension of Tom's internal turmoil, provide a true cinematic experience.
