Trapped in between a seemingly hedonistic existence and sporadic flashes of deeper purpose, Sam Riley’s Tom character in Jan-Ole Gerster’s “Islands” fearlessly confronts the disorienting reality of his life. Working as a tennis coach for affluent tourists at the grand hotel in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Tom arguably hits the nadir of his unrestrained life.
Throughout the narrative, we follow Tom's journey towards an unexpected moment of self-realization, triggered by a family of three visiting the hotel. The story is wrapped in a certain neo-noir style, its suspense balanced by a slightly unsettling background score. Gerster masterfully portrays a man who has diverged from his path, providing just enough detail to paint the image of someone buffeted by the waves of life, living on quick fleeting pleasures and hollow victories.
Stacy Martin’s character, Anne Murphy, sets the catalyst for Tom's introspection. Seemingly self-possessed and under control, she piques Tom’s interest when she arranges tennis lessons for her son, Anton. Anne’s influence on Tom hints at past interactions and an implied connection, leaving audiences intrigued about their shared history.
A game-changer in this existential narrative is the silent hint that Anton might potentially be Tom's son. This realization shakes Tom out of his gratifying but inconsequential lifestyle. Ignited by a sense of legacy, he starts giving undivided attention to the Murphy family and the island’s breathtaking beauty, constructing stark contrasts between his life and that of the affluent family.
Anne’s husband Dave's conspicuous dislike for his family life resonates with the dissatisfied strand in Tom's life, providing Tom a reflection of what his life could look like if he chose a different path. Dave's disappearance after a night of indulgence unfolds the narrative into a thrilling whodunit, with Anne becoming the prime suspect. Even as Tom grapples with authorities’ suspicions and his unspoken communication with Anne, something surprising forces him to deliberate on the course his life ought to take.
The narrative wrapped against the backdrop of Fuerteventura presents a unique dissection of modern lives, isolated from meaningful connections and drowned in interventions. Gerster’s narrative style and cinematography hold the audience captive, driving home the theme of inertia versus the urge to transform. This isn't merely a quest for the ultimate truth, but a journey marked with small steps towards overcoming emotional inertia that encapsulates our existence.
