Sweet Dreams (2023 film)

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Sweet Dreams
Festival release poster
Directed byEna Sendijarević
Written byEna Sendijarević
Produced by
  • Leontine Petit
  • Erik Glijnis
Starring
CinematographyEmo Weemhoff
Edited byLot Rossmark
Music byMartial Foe
Production
companies
  • Lemming Film
  • Plattform Produktion
  • VPRO Television
  • Film i Väst
  • Talamedia (ID)
Distributed byGusto entertainment
Release dates
  • August 5, 2023 (2023-08-05) (Locarno)
  • September 28, 2023 (2023-09-28) (Netherlands)
Running time
102 minutes
Countries
  • Netherlands
  • Sweden
LanguageDutch
Box officeUS$702,446[1]

Sweet Dreams is a 2023 Dutch-Swedish drama film written and directed by Ena Sendijarević. The film starring Renée Soutendijk and Hayati Azis, is set on a plantation in the Dutch East Indies around the beginning of the 20th century and offers a critical look at the Dutch colonial past.[2] It premiered at 76th Locarno Film Festival in main competition section on August 5, 2023.[3] In September, it opened the 43rd Netherlands Film Festival, where it was nominated in eight categories[4] and won six awards.[5]

Later in the same month, it was selected as Dutch entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 96th Academy Awards on September 8, 2023.[6][7] [8] On December 7, it appeared in the eligible list for consideration for the 2024 Oscars,[9] but, it didn't make it to the shortlist.[10]

Synopsis[edit]

This satire shows how European colonialism is destined to fail like the plantation master Jan.

Dutch sugar tycoon Jan (Hans Dagelet) dies suddenly on a remote island in Indonesia, leaving his wife Agathe (Renée Soutendijk) in shock. Their son Cornelis (Florian Myjer) and his pregnant spouse Josefien (Lisa Zweerman) come from the Netherlands to inherit the family empire. But they are dismayed to find out that Jan's mistress Siti (Hayati Azis) has a crucial role in his testament.

Cast[edit]

  • Renée Soutendijk as Agathe
  • Hayati Azis as Siti
  • Lisa Zweerman as Josefien
  • Verdi Solaiman as Hong
  • Hans Dagelet as Jan
  • Muhammad Khan as Reza
  • Bart Klever as Hendrik
  • Chris Nietvelt as Friend Agathe
  • Florian Myjer as Cornelis
  • Rio Kaj Den Haas as Karel
  • Peter Faber as pastor

Release[edit]

Sweet Dreams had its premier at the 76th Locarno Film Festival on August 5, where it won Pardo for Best Performance award. It was selected as opening film of Netherlands Film Festival and was screened on September 22, 2023, there it won six Golden Calf Awards.[11]

The film was selected at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in 'Centrepiece' section,[12] where it had its North American premiere on September 14.[13] It competed in International Competition section for Louve d'or at the 2023 Festival du nouveau cinéma and had its Quebec Premiere on October 5, 2023.[14] It was also screened at: Chicago International Film Festival on October 18, 2023, and competed in 'New Directors Competition' section for Hugo award and won Silver Hugo.[15][16] Three days later it was screened at the 68th Valladolid International Film Festival in 'Punto de Encuentro' section on 21 October.[17]

The film was selected in 'Cinema International' section at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival and will be screened on 8 December 2023.[18]

It was reported in May 2023 that Heretic has acquired world sales rights to the film.[19]

Reception[edit]

Box office[edit]

The film released on September 28, 2023, in Dutch theatres has grossed $702,446 as of November 26, 2023.[1]

Critical response[edit]

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 8 reviews.[20]

Savina Petkova reviewing in Cineuropa wrote, "Sendijarević bridges past and present by fleshing out cruel, silenced histories through satire and formalism." Concluding, Petkova asked a question, "if colonialism lives on through its reverberations in the way our world is structured, can we live through the Anthropocene?"[21] Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter giving positive review wrote, "A worthy addition to a subgenre of period pieces that have been playing the festival circuit for some time now, as emerging filmmakers confront historic traumas with both horror and fascination."[22]

Namrata Joshi for Cinema Express praised the ensemble writing, "The ensemble is in fine fettle with Azis as Siti capping it with her droll dissent." Joshi concluded, "Sendijarevic uses the power of the deadpan to make a larger political point, be it in the blunt, automated, staccato way in which the story progresses or the deliberately poker-faced performances of the key players."[23]

Accolades[edit]

Sweet Dreams was shortlisted for European Film Awards in the 36th European Film Awards, but it didn't make the nominations announced on 7 November. The awards ceremony will take place on 9 December in Berlin.[24][25] The film was also selected as Dutch entry in the Best International Feature Film Award category for the 96th Academy Awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Hollywood on 10 March 2024. A shortlist of 15 films from the total number of submissions will be announced on 21 December. The final nominees will be announced on 23 January 2024 by the Academy.[26]

Award ceremony Year Category Nominee Result Ref.
Locarno Film Festival 2023 Best Film (Golden Leopard) Sweet Dreams Nominated [3][27][28]
Pardo for Best Performance Renée Soutendijk Won [29]
Netherlands Film Festival 2023 Golden Calf for Best Feature Film Sweet Dreams Won [5]
Golden Calf for Best Director Ena Sendijarević Won
Golden Calf for Best Leading Role Renée Soutendijk Won
Golden Calf for Best Supporting Role Florian Myjer Won
Golden Calf for Best Photography Emo Weemhoff Won
Best Costume Design Bernadette Corstens Won
Best editing Lot Rossmark Nominated [4]
Golden Calf for Best Script Ena Sendijarević Nominated
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montreal 15 October 2023 Louve d'Or Sweet Dreams Nominated [30]
Chicago International Film Festival 21 October 2023 Silver Hugo for New Director Ena Sendijarević Won [31]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Sweet Dreams". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Sendijarević, Ena (August 5, 2023). "Sweet Dreams". Cineuropa. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Sweet Dreams World Premiere at Locarno 2023". Eye Filmmuseum. July 5, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Nominaties Gouden Kalveren 2023 bekend" [43rd edition of the Dutch Film Festival: Nominations for Golden Calves 2023 announced]. Dutch Film Festival (in Dutch). September 24, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Winnaars Gouden Kalveren 2023" [43rd edition of the Dutch Film Festival: Winners of the Golden Calves 2023]. Dutch Film Festival (in Dutch). September 29, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Georg Szalai (September 8, 2023). "Oscars 2024: The Netherlands Selects 'Sweet Dreams' for International Feature Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Patrick Frater, Leo Barraclough, Ellise Shafer, Elsa Keslassy, John Hopewell, Naman Ramachandran, Nick Vivarelli, K.J. Yossman, Anna Marie de la Fuente (October 17, 2023). "International Oscar Race". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Netherlands Oscar Contender 'Sweet Dreams' Sets North American Release With Dekanalog (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.
  9. ^ Clayton Davis (December 7, 2023). "Academy Announces 288 Eligible Titles for Animated, Documentary and International Feature Oscar Races". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "96th Oscars Shortlists Announced for 10 Categories". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Sweet Dreams is de openingsfilm van het Nederlands Film Festival 2023" [Sweet Dreams is the opening film of the Dutch Film Festival 2023]. Eye Filmmuseum (in Dutch). May 15, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (August 10, 2023). "TIFF 2023 Centerpiece Program Showcases Aki Kaurismäki, Wim Wenders, Agnieszka Holland, and More". IndieWire. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "TIFF: Sweet Dreams". Toronto International Film Festival. July 24, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "International Competition: Sweet Dreams". Festival du nouveau cinéma. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "New Directors Competition: Sweet Dreams". Chicago International Film Festival. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Chicago International Film Festival winners announced; 'Monster' takes LGBTQ+ competition". Windy City Times. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 – 68th Edition: Sweet Dreams". Valladolid International Film Festival. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  18. ^ "Cinema International". Kolkata International Film Festival. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (May 15, 2023). "Heretic Acquires World Sales Rights to Ena Sendijarević's Indonesia-Set, Colonial-Era Satire 'Sweet Dreams' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Sweet Dreams (2023, Drama)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  21. ^ Petkova, Savina (August 7, 2023). "Review: Sweet Dreams". Cineuropa. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  22. ^ Jordan Mintzer (August 7, 2023). "'Sweet Dreams' Review: A Surreal Satire Exploring Dutch Colonialism in Indonesia". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  23. ^ Joshi, Namrata (September 23, 2023). "Cinema Without Borders: Sweet Dreams—Colonial crimes". Cinema Express. The New Indian Express. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  24. ^ "The European Film Awards announce 21 further feature films to be added to the their selection". Cineuropa. September 27, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  25. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (November 7, 2023). "'Fallen Leaves' & 'The Zone Of Interest' Top European Film Award Nominations In Main Categories". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  26. ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  27. ^ "Sweet Dreams (2023 film)". Locarno Film Festival. August 5, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  28. ^ Roxborough, Scott (July 5, 2023). "Locarno Film Festival Unveils 2023 Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  29. ^ Ntim, Zac (August 12, 2023). "Locarno Film Festival Winners: 'Critical Zone' By Persecuted Iranian Filmmaker Ali Ahmadzadeh Takes Top Prize". Deadline. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  30. ^ "International Competition". Festival du nouveau cinéma. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  31. ^ "59th Chicago International Film Festival Announces Award-Winners". RogerEbert.com. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

External links[edit]

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