On and around the Indonesian sugar plantation of the couple Jan (Hans Dagelet) and Agathe (Renée Soutendijk), the bitterness of decay dominates. It is around 1900: the Dutch know that the colonial era is coming to an end, but refuse to give in. The mosquitoes seem more aggressive than ever, as if they want to point out to the exploiters accustomed to decadence that they really have to get out of here.
In the meantime, the locals who work for the factory plan an escape attempt. But where should they go? This is actually their territory, isn’t it? In the meantime, everything and everyone seems to be almost succumbing to the tropical fever. The Bosnian-Dutch director Ena Sendijarevic (Take Me Somewhere Nice) knows with her stunningly shot feature film Sweet Dreams – submitted by the Netherlands for the Oscars – especially captures that atmosphere of vagueness and craziness.
The character Agathe may embody that ambiance. Renée Soutendijk plays her as grotesque as she is vulnerable. She is somewhat reminiscent of Oscar winner Olivia Colman as the crazy British Queen Anne in the modern costume classic The Favorite (2018). She was also an insufferable shrew who ultimately evoked pity. Because that isolated, almost perverse lifestyle: they don’t know any better.
Soutendijk’s wonderful role could have been a bit bigger. A lot of time is spent on the sometimes hilarious, but often rather lame antics of her schlemiel son Cornelis and heavily pregnant daughter-in-law Josefien who want to sell the plantation quickly and are prepared to pass on. And then there is a subplot around housekeeper Siti to also give the Indonesian people a voice in the film.
In Sweet Dreams satire, seriousness and exaggerated symbolism constantly collide. But that eerie atmosphere of colonial decay and Soutendijk as its embodiment, linger for a long time.
Director: Ena Sendijarevic. Starring: Renée Soutendijk, Lisa Zweerman, Florian Myjer and Peter Faber.
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