The Dutch movie Stromboli, directed by Michiel van Erp, follows the life of a divorcee and her PTSD healing journey. The movie is an adaptation of the novel by Saskia Noort, and writers Roos Ouwehand and Paula van der Oest built the plot even more. The 1 hour and 26 minutes movie will emotionally touch the viewers who have experienced abuse, violence and other sensitive issues.
The official Netflix description of the movie reads,
At a self-help retreat on a volcanic Italian island, a ragtag group of lost souls confronts their painful pasts with the help of a charismatic guru.
The movie’s main cast includes Elise Schaap, Tim McInnerny, Christian Hillborg, Pieter Embrechts, Anna Chancellor, Neerja Naik, Taz Munyaneza, Marisa Van Eyle, Adriano Chiaramida, Simone Coppo, Mark van Eeuwen, Jenny Hsia, Olinda Larralde Ortiz and Anna Loeffen. The movie was shot on Stromboli island and is available in English and Dutch audio.
– Stromboli Review Contains No Spoilers –
The movie starts with Sara, who is clearly an alcoholic, creating a nuisance on a cruise ship. However, it is soon known that she is travelling to Stromboli island after messing up her teenage daughter’s birthday party. Due to Sara’s past, she’s started to rely on alcohol which, in turn, shatters her whole life.
She is then found by a healing Guru, Jens, who takes her back to the healing retreat area. Over there, she forms a bond with people who are struggling with PTSD. We also learn the real reason for Sara’s addiction and how she finds peace with it. Apart from her story, we are also introduced to the supporting roles and their painful past.
The story is extremely good, and the direction is outstanding. The locations chosen to exhibit the people’s dark days does pull the heartstrings. On a personal note, I started crying when Sara recounted her awful memory. The methods of healing done by the retreat team will also let the viewers connect— great cathartic cinematography.
There will be a lot of triggering scenes, so it is advised that only those ready to go against their emotions shall watch it. Or else it can make someone’s day worse. There were graphic scenes that made the storyline realistic and relatable. Moreover, Sara’s journey in finding how her past is the real reason behind her habits was beautifully shown through Jens’ keen observation.
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Jens, played by Christian Hillborg, did an outstanding job. Christian’s acting in one scene where the crew roleplays can quickly get you mad. Well, mad in a good way because, in the movie, he was trying to make the members angry so that they could let go of it. He also was portrayed as an angel sort of figure.
Speaking of Hans, played by Pieter Embrechts, it was heartwrenching. Literally, the way he and Sara connects can be seen intensely. When he roleplays Sara’s past with another woman, we can see how even he was trembling to experience Sara’s violent trauma. It is evident that Sara, acted by Elise Schaap, did a splendid performance. The actress beautifully executed bold sex scenes and drunkard behaviours. Big Kudos for her wonderfully presenting the life of a PTSD person who is unaware of their inner problem.
Stromboli Final Verdict
It was absolutely healing. The metaphorical comparison between Sara’s healing and the Volcano’s eruption made a lot of sense. The location chosen for the movie really will be visually pleasing. The actors did a splendid job, and the ending felt legit.
Stromboli is definitely a good watch that should be suggested to people trying to figure out how to heal. Ensure when you recommend, you let them know that there is going to be sexual abuse and other sensitive problems discussed in it. Moreover, mental health-related movies, as such, must be created more and more because they can positively influence people and sensitise them.
If you haven’t watched the movie, it is now streaming on Netflix. Do watch it and let us know your thoughts on it.
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