New Movies: De Idyllе (2025) by Aaron Rookus: Four Generations in Search of Meaning

A surreal, bittersweet tragicomedy about family, mortality, and emotional rebirth

Summary Short

A poignant Dutch tragicomedy that tracks four generations of a quirky family grappling with death, identity, and the illusions of a “better life”—balancing surreal moments and dry humor to reveal how true meaning springs from accepting life’s beautiful absurdity.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30874571/

Link Review: https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/473189/

About movie: https://paradisofilms.nl/Movies/de-idylle/

Link to watch: https://picl.nl/films/de-idylle (Netherlands)

Detailed Summary

Aaron Rookus’s sophomore feature interweaves six distinct lives: Viktor, a middle-aged psychiatrist, re-embraces gay dating; Annika, an opera diva, copes with cancer by envisioning alternate realities; grandma Joke oscillates between suicidal thoughts and inertia; ten-year-old Timo races to fulfill a bucket list under false assumption of impending death; and teacher Musa drifts through a disillusioned midlife. Through recurring surreal imagery—like a helicopter-lifted ostrich—the film juxtaposes bright, stylized visuals with raw human emotion, ultimately affirming that fulfillment lies not in destination but in embracing the unpredictable journey.

Plot summary

• Viktor’s awkward return to gay datingViktor (Eelco Smits) leaves a long-term straight relationship and enters a younger, app-driven gay world, leading to both comedic missteps and introspective loneliness.

• Annika’s parallel‑life hallucinationsOpera star Annika (Hadewych Minis), after a terminal diagnosis, witnesses visions of herself as a suburban housewife (“Hannah”) and realizes no ideal life exists.

• Joke’s paralysis at the edge of deathGrandma Joke (Beppie Melissen) attempts suicide multiple times, each time interrupted by mundane frustrations—capturing the raw inertia of despair.

• Timo’s urgent bucket‑list questBelieving he’s dying from a prophecy, ten‑year‑old Timo (Isacco Limper) and friend Isaac knock out whimsical bucket goals, discovering unexpected wonder in the ordinary.

• Musa’s midlife emotional freezeTeacher Musa (Nabil Mallat) battles boredom, marital disconnect, and fatherhood pressures—his cynicism a subdued foil to the movie’s other arcs.

Director’s Vision

• Surreal symbolismThe ostrich-crane visual, echoing Fellinian extravagance, allegorizes our absurd ways of avoiding mortality.

• Operatic structureRookus arranges each character’s journey like movements in a symphony, blending them into a cohesive emotional arc.

• Bright-yet-distant cinematographyCrisp lighting and static frames—like family dinner scenes—underscore emotional detachment beneath domestic normality.

• Personal im buingRookus infuses his cancer survival experience into the narrative, lending authenticity to its mortality explorations.

Themes

• Confronting mortalityThrough illness, imagined fate, and suicidal ideation, the film challenges characters—and viewers—to live deliberately.

• No route to ideal lifeAnnika’s visions and Viktor’s dating woes underscore that perfection is an illusion in any reality.

• Existential anxiety transcends ageTimo’s childhood fears and Joke’s elder despair reflect mortality’s indifference to age.

• Blending absurdity and pathosWhimsical imagery (ostrich, bucket lists) tempers heavier themes with dark humor.

Key success factors

• Tonal agilityThe film magnifies emotional shifts—from absurd comedy to existential depth—with deft precision.

• Powerful ensemble performancesActors like Melissen, Minis, Smits, and Limper deliver layered, emotionally resonant portrayals.

• Narrative clarityDespite multiple storylines, each arc receives space and coherence—rare for mosaic dramas.

• Symbolic visual motifsRecurring imagery like the ostrich becomes a thematic anchor, reinforcing the film’s emotional logic.

Awards & Nominations

Selected for the Big Screen Competition at IFFR 2025—a significant festival recognition highlighting its artistic promise and dramatic ambition.

Critics Reception

• The Film Verdict (Stephen Dalton)Hails it as “witty, well‑crafted,” citing its tonal dexterity and emotional ambition, though notes occasional narrative bloat.

• Cineuropa (Davide Abbatescianni)Labels it a “pleasant rollercoaster of emotions,” celebrating its ability to blend humor, depth, and cohesion.

• Cinemagazine (Roy van Landschoot)Awards 3/5 stars; commends its dry wit and existential probing, while remarking on structural density.

• Overall, critics praise its distinct voice, emotional resonance, and visual lyricism, with some caution around its ambitious scope.

Reviews

• VPRO Cinema“Troostrijke mozaïekfilm” (a comforting mosaic film), lauded for emotional warmth and structural invention.

• de VolkskrantNotes a “knappe balans tussen geestige en tragische” (adroit balance of humor and tragedy).

• FilmkrantCalls it “onmiskenbaar Nederlands én onmiskenbaar goed” (unmistakably Dutch and undeniably good).

• These reviews underscore the film’s cultural sincerity, emotional ambition, and stylistic polish—while occasionally citing pacing complexity.

Production Summary

A collaborative European co-production (Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia) produced in autumn 2023, with a streamlined 99-minute runtime balancing emotional depth with concise storytelling.

Production Companies

Studio Ruba (Netherlands), Polar Bear (Belgium), Allfilm (Estonia)

Sales Summary

Belgian sales agent LevelK handles international rights, aiming for festival exposure and global distribution alignment.

Distribution Companies

Paradiso Filmed Entertainment oversaw the domestic Dutch theatrical rollout in March 2025.

Release date on streaming

Not announced yet; anticipated post-theatrical release, likely later in 2025 on festival-aligned platforms.

Theatrical Release

World premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam on February 1, 2025; limited Dutch screenings from February 7; wider release March 13, 2025.

Why to recommend this movie

• Human universality: Tackles love, loss, identity—topics that resonate across demographics.

• Innovative form: A mosaic narrative that honors each character’s voice while weaving a unified emotional tapestry.

• Surreal symbolism: Visual metaphors like the ostrich lift heavy themes into poetic clarity.

• Emotional performances: The cast’s heartfelt portrayals anchor the film’s thematic ambitions.

Why to watch movie

• Philosophical storytelling: Provokes reflection on mortality, presence, and how we construct meaning.

• Aesthetic allure: Strong cinematography and structured scenes create a visually meditative experience.

• Mental-health awareness: Addresses depression and despair with humanity—never melodrama.

• Cultural insight: Offers a window into contemporary Dutch familial and social dynamics.

Movie Trend

Follows the ensemble existential tragicomedy trend—layered, character-driven cinema blending emotional insight with dry humor within arthouse sensibilities.

Social Trend

Reflects the cultural embrace of mental health and mortality conversation, offering open emotional discussion through candid, empathetic storytelling.

Final Verdict

De Idyllе is a moving, visually vibrant tragicomedy that balances the absurd with the profound. Its emotional dexterity, ensemble performances, and symbolic vision combine to create a film that both puzzles and comforts—ideal for viewers seeking stories that wrestle thoughtfully with life’s impermanence.

Recommendations for film makers

• Layer with tonal contrast: Weaving humor and gravitas can enhance audience connection without diminishing impact.

• Weave multiple arcs cleanly: A mosaic structure demands clear thematic throughlines and visual markers to guide viewers.

• Anchor in symbolism: A recurring motif can unify disparate characters and elevate narrative resonance.

• Inject personal truth: Transforming personal experiences into universal stories fosters emotional authenticity.

Recommendations for Movie Industry

• Champion co-productions: Cross-border funding and production—like that of Studio Ruba, Polar Bear, and Allfilm—drive narrative richness and market viability.

• Invest in festival development: Platforms like IFFR support ambitious cinema voices and build early momentum.

• Uplift existential indie cinema: Films probing mortality and mental health deserve elevated distribution channels and marketing support.

Final Conclusions

De Idyllе cements Aaron Rookus’s reputation as a singular voice in modern European cinema—melding surreal imagery, emotional frankness, and ensemble storytelling into a film that is quietly profound, wryly heartbreaking, and ultimately life-affirming.