Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: THE ISLAND [International Film Festival Rotterdam 2022 - Virtual]

The essence of loss and temptation versus isolation is melded in an aspect of great literature but it depends on interpretation especially in a visual medium. For "The Island" [Big Screen Competition] which blends almost an ironic Greek stage play and a spoken world musical, there are glimpses of brilliance in an all-together abstract world that beats back and forth more than it reaches a destination. The focus is around Robinson (like that of Crusoe) stuck on a island but more stuck in his own thoughts. He fancies himself in a life of dreams but mold more in wanton aspects of lust (a looming mermaid) as well as Freudian psychology of parenting [his mother and her pirate husband show up to claim him as her son] as well as a surrogate son of sorts (Friday) [who also may be artificial in a way]. Robinson though is more chill. His essence brings to mind that of Jeffrey Lebowski (aka "The Dude") even in his walk (movement of the characters is one of the highlights of the film).

Robinson saunters about the island as he and his ward (Friday) move in a serpent-like laconic way that becomes almost eerie in itself. There is a factory on the island that stands away from the cliff where Robinson peers over the sea from his perch but it endlessly pushes out would be clones or doubles of Friday. This of course might be an overarching references to refugees. What is interesting is that the dialogue feels in an odd shape akin to some of Prospero's musings in "The Tempest" (also an island film). Robinson speaks of diseases as food, delicacies meant to be experienced, consumed and digested. It is an odd metaphor to be sure and the different chapters and stages point to this being a perspective of what paradise (for him) might look like.

Robinson himself seems to want to be wrapped up in his own fluffy bed of denial. The animation works well in this way though it flitters in and out of stylistic cohesion in the best possible way. At one point there is almost a de-evolution into an almost Pleasure Island Pinocchio structure that is both lurid, slightly offensive but also beautiful in its own way. This is a limbo that Robinson must traverse yet he will still be tuck in his own head before the cycle begins anew. "The Island" is about questions in many ways but also in priorities and motivations. Robinson is content on his island and yet he is draped in duality. He is alone and yet is plagued by many. In this way, "The Island" accomplishes its job but it requires the untwirling of various tongue twisters and riddles to decrypt that truth. B-

By Tim Wassberg