Îles flottantes

Îles flottantes (English: Floating Island) 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
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nanouk Leopold
Written by	Nanouk Leopold
Produced by	Stienette Bosklopper
Starring	Maria Kraakman Manja Topper Halina Reijn Leo Hogenboom Gillis Biesheuvel
Cinematography	Benito Strangio
Edited by	Katharina Wartena
Music by	Harry de Wit
Production companies	Circe Films Motel Films VPRO
Distributed by	A-Film Distribution
Release date	12 April 2001 (2001-04-12)
Running time	78 minutes
Country	Netherlands
Languages	Dutch Russian

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.

Plot

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.^[1][2] It was partially filmed in and around the street Leopold grew up in.^[3]

Release

Îles flottantes had its world premiere at the 2001's International Film Festival Rotterdam,^[4][5] where it competed for the Tiger Award.^[5]

Reception

The film was received mostly positive by critics although they found the film fairly hermetic.^[6]