The Paradise Suite [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film], the second film by Dutch screenwriter and director Joost van Ginkel, will premiere on 26 September at the Netherlands Film Festival, ahead of its local theatrical release, scheduled for 29 October (distribution courtesy of September Film).

The Paradise Suite is a multicultural ensemble piece following six characters from different backgrounds, all based, voluntarily or not, in Amsterdam. For young Bulgarian Jenya, her trip to Holland turns out to be a nightmare. An African man, Yaya, will fight for her freedom – a dangerous fight in which he loses everything but his faith. The film also unravels the story of a Serbian war criminal who has just become a father, and the tale of a Bosnian woman who has nothing left to live for except her desire for revenge. Finally, it focuses on the relationship between a Swedish piano prodigy and his father.

“The Paradise Suite is an observation of a period of time but is a poetic interpretation of reality. It is a both raw and poetic praise of human strength for survival,” states van Ginkel. “Although I know I can’t change humankind, hopefully the film will create some awareness about the complex and sometimes ruthless society we live in. The storylines and characters are based on true stories. We all are able to relate to these stories somehow.”

Van Ginkel – whose sign-language feature debut, 170 Hz [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], won the Audience Award at the 2011 edition of the Netherlands Film Festival – saw his new feature produced by Dutch outfits PRPL and Bastide Film in co-production with GötaFilm, Film i Väst (Sweden) and KaBoAl Pictures (Bulgaria).

The Paradise Suite is the second title to be announced as part of the 2015 programme of the Netherlands Film Festival, following Erik de Bruyn’s J Kessels [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film], which will open the Utrecht-based event on 23 September (read more). The full programme is set to be unveiled on 7 September.