Rietland

For years, Johan has been cutting the reeds used to thatch roofs or to make baskets, mats, and screens. One day, he discovers the lifeless body of a girl on his land and is struck by a vague sense of guilt. While caring for his granddaughter, Johan—played by Gerrit Knobbe, a reed cutter in real life—sets out to find answers and track down the source of the evil. Rietland is the feature debut of Sven Bresser, a remarkable first film from the 33-year-old director. The psychological drama had its world premiere at Cannes and is, following Alex van Warmerdam’s Borgman (2013), the first Dutch-language feature to premiere there.