In the makers’ highly praised graduation film Onno the Oblivious, the protagonist ran through life, desperately in search of the cause of his discontent. Four years later, in the unusual Nocturne, this search has not become any less feverish. This time round it’s Alex, an ambitious debut filmmaker, who is trying to get to grips with his work. Time is pressing. Producers are becoming impatient. The crew bombard him with questions. Tonight, it’s do or die.
Torn back and forth between his project, his departed lover and his sick mother, Alex’s life increasingly resembles a ghostly, wildly poetic film noir. The pistol! The tormented look! The dramatic music! The forceful close-up! Will Alex have to choose between love or ambition, reality or art? Are we witness to an attempt to film a mind in action, seen from its interior? Or are we watching the process of creation of the film?
Film details
Productielanden
Belgium, Netherlands
Jaar
2019
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2019
Lengte
80'
Medium/Formaat
DCP
Taal
Dutch
Première status
World premiere
Director
Viktor van der Valk
Producer
Erik Glijnis, Dries Phlypo
Screenplay
Viktor van der Valk, Jeroen Scholten van Aschat
Cinematography
Emo Weemhoff
Editing
Lot Rossmark
Production design
Myrte Beltman
Sound design
Tijn Hazen
Principal cast
Vincent van der Valk, Reinout Scholten van Aschat, Bart Slegers, Simone van Bennekom, Tom Dewispelaere, Rutger Weemhoff, Bien de Moor