Isabelle (2011 film)
| Isabelle | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ben Sombogaart |
| Screenplay by | Marieke van der Pol |
| Based on | Isabelle by Tessa de Loo |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Piotr Kukla |
| Edited by | Herman P. Koerts |
| Music by | Jeannot Sanavia |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | A-Film Distribution |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Dutch |
| Box office | $134,730[1] |
Isabelle is a 2011 Dutch psychological thriller film directed by Ben Sombogaart and written for the screen by Marieke van der Pol based on the novel of the same name by Tessa de Loo. It stars Halina Reijn as the beautiful actress Isabelle that is kidnapped by the jealous disfigured artist Jeanne, played by Tineke Caels. It also stars Wim Opbrouck, Barbara Sarafian, Michel Van Dousselaere and Monique van de Ven.[2][3]
The film was first shown at the Netherlands Film Festival on September 22, 2011 immediately followed by a release in Dutch theaters. It received a mixed reception from critics and a tepid response from the general audience.
Plot
[edit]Isabelle, a famous, beautiful and succesful Dutch actor, decides before a new film production to go on holiday with her parents to a holiday villa small village in the Ardennes. During her holiday, she is concerned about her weight, having to lose some weight before her next role. Jeanne, an Belgian artist and waitress, who is "disfigured" and is jealous of Isabelle's beauty and fame, has been stalking her and at one of her sun baths, Jeanne uses her dog to force Isabelle to follow her orders and demands. Together they walk to Jeanne's decrepit home. Isabelle who wants leave, isn't allowed and is thrown into a dungeon. She tries to scream for help, but the prison is in remote location in the Ardennes forest.
Isabelle's parents alert the police, and they go on a month long investigation but they are unable to find Isabelle, dead or alive. Over the course, her disapperance is considered major news and where Jeanne works, the disappearance regularly covered on the television news. Meanwhile, in her captivity Isabelle is being mistreated, starved, while at the same time she being forced as nude model for Jeanne's painting. Using Isabelle's frail naked body, to make paintings that make a statement about beauty. Jeanne repeatly taunts Isabelle and claims people find her hidious and is easily forgotten by other people. Any attempts by Isabelle to escape fail.
In the outside world, most people have forgotten about Isabelle, except for Bernard, a local man, who had seen Isabelle and had taken a secret nude photograph of her. He has been obsessing about her ever since, he has been collecting news clippings, attempting forays in to the forest and starting having erotic dreams about her. On of his trips, he visits Jeanne's home but isn't made aware of Isabelle's presence. Isabelle's situation and body continues to deteriorate, having increased number bouts of faints and only for her pleas to go ignored. Communication between two women slowly softens, when Isabelle details about her negative experiences with her appearance, and Jeanne in return about her traumatizing childhood.
Jeanne begins giving Jeanne food and drinks. While two are taking their lunch outside, an used sigarette that Jeanne used was fallen in a waste bin setting the kitchen aflame trapping the dog. Instead of using the opportunity to escape Isabelle aids in putting out the flame. Their progress is undone, however, later, at the pub Jeanne and Bernard exchanging information about Isabelle that are at odds, in turn Jeanne lashes out at Isabelle. In her ultimate ploy, Isabelle fakes her own suicide by hanging, and is later found by Bernard. But before they leave, Isabelle tries and fails to convince Jeanne to not commit suicide by fire and dies.
In the aftermath, Isabelle and Bernard depart the forest for civilization. In the end narrration by Bernard, he states that Isabelle returned to her old weight, and that she had retired from acting and wrote a book.
Cast
[edit]- Halina Reijn as Isabelle
- Tineke Caels as Jeanne
- Wim Opbrouck as Bernard
- Barbara Sarafian as Gislene
- Michel van Dousselaere as Peer
- Monique van de Ven as Isabelle's mother
Production
[edit]This is the second adaptation of a Tessa de Loo novel Sombogaart has directed following the 2002 Twin Sisters.[4] He reunited with screenwriter Marieke van der Pol for the project.[5] For the role as the kidnapped and held captive Isabelle, Reijn lost nine kilos (18lbs) by sticking to strict diet for nine weeks.[6][5] During the nude filming, she struggled with keeping herself warm and described the overall experience as intense. Tineke Caels for her role as Jeanne had to udner make-up for two hours every day.[6][7]
Release
[edit]The film had its premiere on September 22 at the 31st edition of the Netherlands Film Festival and was released in Dutch theaters that same week.[8]
Reception
[edit]Isabelle received mixed-to-negative reviews from Dutch critics.[5][9][10] Boyd van Hoeij writing for Variety described the critical and audience response as "tepid", one that is unlikely the find a signifiant audience.[11]
Even thought her effort was commended by critics, Reijn was viewed as unsuited for the role, as she didn't fit conventional beauty standards.[9][12] Despite this, Reijn was nominated for best Dutch actress for the role at the 2012 Rembrandt Awards.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Isabelle (2011)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Isabelle (2011)". Cineuropa. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Isabelle (2011)". Netherlands Film Festival. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "FilmKort". Filmkrant. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b c Toma, Kevin (22 September 2011). "Isabelle - Een intelligente psychothriller tot het einde boeit". Volkskrant. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Halina Reijn viel negen kilo af". Nu.nl. 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ Nientied, André (21 September 2011). "Isabelle heftige film voor Halina Reijn". Nu.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Isabelle in première op Nederlands Film Festival". NU.nl. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b de Gier, Rick (21 September 2011). "Isabelle en het beest". VPRO Gids. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ Laman, Martijn (20 October 2011). "Isabelle (2011) - Review". Cinemagazine. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ van Hoeij, Boyd (23 October 2011). "Isabelle (2011)". Variety. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Moorman, Mark (22 September 2011). "Isabelle **". Het Parool. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
- ^ "Rembrandt Awards: Corry Konings wint 'beste titelsong'". Het Parool. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
External links
[edit]- Isabelle at IMDb
- Isabelle at Rotten Tomatoes