“Reedland”, interview with the director Sven Bresser

May 18, 2025

Sven Bresser, director. "Reedland". Nature can be good and frightening, life can change your attìitudes and thoughts in a moment.

"Reedland", interview with the director Sven Bresser Angelo Acerbi

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“Reedland” by Sven Bresser is included in the selection for the Critics’ Week, at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The film ticks all the boxes of the murder mystery genre, but it elevates and become a surprising and fascinating tale about the life of a simple man in the rural Netherlands facing new challenges inside of himself. An astounding attention for framing and the vision on nature in such a peculiar way that the audience is absorbed in this story and its images.

Places I knew, and a nature I loved and feared at the same time

Sven Bresser knew the region of the Netherlands where “Reedland” takes place. His childhood was spent there too, and visiting and living the life of reed cutters made the rest. The perception of nature is one of love and fascination but also of fear as it becomes a place where things and tragedies can be hidden – like the body of a dead girl.

A splendid lead character, played by a non actor

The strength of ” Reedland” lays on the lead character, Johan, played by a real reed cutter in such a powerful and striking way. Sven Bresser tells us that the process fo directing a non actor was peculiar and that the main secret has been of give him space in the movements and not telling him too much about the scenes, letting him living them in his own terms

Plot

When reed cutter Johan discovers the lifeless body of a girl on his land, he is overcome by an ambiguous sense of guilt. While taking care of his granddaughter, he sets out on a quest to track down evil. But darkness can thrive in unexpected places.

Written by: Angelo Acerbi

Guest

Sven Bresser