It takes guts to adapt one of the most popular Dutch post-war novels to the screen. Boudewijn Koole took up the challenge in a film that confirms his visual talent while doing justice to the book.
Beyond Sleep largely follows the 1966 classic. Geology student Alfred, as insecure as he is ambitious, hopes to find evidence of meteorite impacts on an expedition to Lapland. Hiking across the tundra for days on end with his Norse acquaintance Arne and two other Norwegians is tough for the untrained Alfred. He has to go to his limits.
Alfred’s inferiority complex, his struggle with himself and the merciless natural environment, the expectations that weigh on him, the paranoia that overcomes him, the friendship that surprises him – Koole manages to present it all miraculously well without the use of words, aided by the sensitive camera work of Melle van Essen and the outstanding performance of Reinout Scholten van Asschat. Opening film IFFR 2016.
Film details
- Country of production
- Netherlands
- Year
- 2016
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2016
- Length
- 108'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
