The Island (2011 film)

The Island
BulgarianОстровът
Directed byKamen Kalev
Written byKamen Kalev
Produced byAnguel Christanov
Kamen Kalev
Elitza Katzarska
Stela Pavlova
Filip Todorov
Emre Yeksan
Fredrik Zander
StarringThure Lindhardt
Laetitia Casta
CinematographyJulian Atanassov
Music byJean-Paul Wall
Release dates
  • 16 May 2011 (2011-05-16) (Cannes)
  • 10 October 2011 (2011-10-10) (Bulgaria)
Running time
95 minutes
CountriesBulgaria
Sweden
LanguagesBulgarian, English, French
Budget€ 1,500,000 (estimated)

The Island (Bulgarian: Островът, romanized: Ostrovăt) is the second film from Bulgarian director Kamen Kalev.[1] It is a Bulgarian-Swedish production about a young Parisian couple vacationing on a small island, off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The film premiered on 16 May 2011, at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes 2011.[2]

Synopsis

Sophie and Daneel, both in their early thirties, are a close and passionate couple living in Paris. Sophie initiates a surprise journey to Bulgaria. Daneel explicitly refuses to go, but Sophie insists and convinces him to leave. When they arrive, Sophie discovers that Daneel was born there.

After a few hours on the crowded beaches, Daneel leads Sophie to an abandoned island lost in the Black Sea. Once there, Daneel discovers pregnancy tests in Sophie’s luggage. The heat and the strange few inhabitants soon alter their behaviors, and the island slowly reveals hidden fears that question their love. To get through it all, they have to jump into the unknown.

Cast

Awards and nominations

Festival participation / Award Date of ceremony Category Recipients and nominees Result
43rd Directors' Fortnight, Cannes[2] 16 May 2011 Feature films Kamen Kalev Nominated
17th Sarajevo Film Festival[3] 24 July 2011 In Focus selection Nominated
44th Sitges Film Festival[4] 10 October 2011 Noves Visions - Ficció Nominated
27th Haifa International Film Festival[5] 14 October 2011 Cinematheque Nominated
30th Golden Rose film festival, Varna[6] 18 October 2011 Best Cinematographer Julian Atanassov Won
40th Festival International de Films de Montréal[7] 19 October 2011 International Selection Kamen Kalev Nominated
33rd Montpellier Film Festival[8] 23 October 2011 Features - competition Nominated
52nd Thessaloniki International Film Festival[9] 7 November 2011 Balkan Survey Nominated
42nd International Film Festival of India, Goa[10] 28 November 2011 Cinema of the world Nominated

References

  1. ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 81. ISBN 978-1908215017.
  2. ^ a b "Cannes 2011 Directors' Fortnight". 16 May 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Sarajevo Film Festival". 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Sitges Film Festival". 10 October 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  5. ^ "27th Haifa International Film Festival, 2011, October 13th – 22nd" (PDF). 14 October 2011. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  6. ^ Ștefan Dobroiu (18 October 2011). "No. 1 receives Golden Rose Trophy". Cineuropa. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Festival International de Films de Montréal". 19 October 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Cinémed Montpellier Film Festival". 23 October 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Thessaloniki International Film Festival". 7 November 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. ^ "International Film Festival of India" (PDF). 28 November 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.