Sweet Dreams (English subs)
Director Ena Sendijarevic combines relentless satire with an exuberant aesthetic in a story about the downfall of European colonialism.
‘A horrific fairytale in which the banality of violence is underlined.’ That is how director Ena Sendijarevic describes this feature.When the patriarch and plantation owner Jan (Hans Dagelet) passes away, his relatives engage in a heated dispute about the future. Notably, three women become embroiled in a captivating cat-and-mouse-game: Jan’s wife Agathe, Siti, the housekeeper and mother of his illegitimate son; and the very pregnant daughter-in-law Josefien. With her distinct and striking visual style, Sendijarevic has crafted a film that lingers in your thoughts long after the credits roll.
At the filmfestival in Locarno Renee Soutendijk won the Golden Lion; in Holland she won the award for best actrice. The film also won a Gouden Kalf for best movie, best director, best camera, best supporting actor (Florian Myjer) and best costume design. It is also the Dutch entry for the Oscars.
A gorgeous, sardonic portrait of colonial declineVariety