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.
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.
Fun Facts
Dutch writer-director Sven Bresser’s debut premiered in Critics’ Week at the 78th Cannes Film Festival (14 May 2025) and was instantly slapped with the buzz-word “Laura Palmer in the polder” for its eerie, rural-gothic vibe.
The only warmth on-screen comes from Johan’s bond with his grand-daughter Dana (played by school-play newcomer Loïs Reinders). Bresser wrote her as the single pulse of innocence so the audience feels the stakes when that innocence is threatened.
The Netherlands tapped Reedland as its 2025 submission for the Best International Feature race at the 98th Academy Awards, but it didn’t make the December short-list—meaning the Oscar journey ends at the gate.