Fabula (film)
{{short description|2025 crime comedy film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Fabula
| image = Fabula film poster.jpg
| caption = Festival release poster
| native_name =
| director = Michiel ten Horn
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Sander Verdonk
- Thomas den Drijver
- Mariano Vanhoof
- Jörg Siepmann
- Harry Flöter}}
| screenplay = Michiel ten Horn
| based_on =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Fedja van Huêt
- Sezgin Güleç
- Michiel Kerbosch
- Anniek Pheifer
- Livia Lamers
- Georg Friedrich
- David Kross
}}
| music = Djurre de Haan
| cinematography = Robbie van Brussel
| editing = Louis Deruddere
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- New Amsterdam Film Company
- Fobic Films
- 2Pilots
}}
| distributor = The Searchers
| released = {{Film date|2025|1|30|IFFR}}
| runtime = 125 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Belgium
}}
| language = {{Plainlist|
- Dutch
- English
- German}}
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Fabula is a 2025 crime comedy film written, directed by Michiel ten Horn, and starring Fedja van Huêt, Sezgin Güleç and Michiel Kerbosch. The film revolves around Jos, who was born into a family haunted by disaster and he determined to find out what caused it meets a series of colourful characters who slowly bring him closer to the explanation he’s been searching for. The Dutch, German and Belgium co-production also have Livia Lamers, Georg Friedrich and David Kross in pivotal roles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmportal.de/en/movie/fabula_3fe82ce245d647aebbd15f95e8bb67db |title=Fabula|website= filmportal.de |date=5 December 2024|access-date= 6 January 2025|language=de}}
The film premiered at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam as opening film on 30 January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2025/films/fabula |title=Fabula |work=International Film Festival Rotterdam|access-date=6 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/international-film-festival-rotterdam-unveils-opening-closing-films-competition-juries-2025-1236199416/ |title=International Film Festival Rotterdam Unveils Opening & Closing Films, Competition Juries For 2025|first= Sara |last=Merican |date=10 December 2024|access-date=6 January 2025 |website= Deadline |language=en}}
Synopsis
At 55, small-town criminal Jos finds himself utterly sidelined. His daughter shows him no respect, his wife lacks trust in him, and his friends mock him openly. While frantically trying to salvage a botched drug deal, Jos desperately seeks to understand who or what is causing his misfortune.
Cast
- Fedja van Huêt as Jos
- Sezgin Güleç as Özgür
- Michiel Kerbosch as Lei
- Anniek Pheifer as Dien
- Livia Lamers as Linda
- Georg Friedrich as Hendrik
- David Kross as The Grape
- Izabela Gwizdak as Anja
- mark archschoot as paul
Production
The film directed by Michiel ten Horn is produced by New Amsterdam Film Company, Fobic Films and 2Pilots, whereas international sales are handled by The Searchers.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/michiel-ten-horn-rotterdam-fabula-1236290242/ |title= Michiel ten Horn's Rotterdam Opener Fabula Offers a Darkly Humorous Look at Redemption: 'It's Like A Christmas Carol{{'}} |author= Marta Balaga |work= Variety|date=29 January 2025|access-date= 30 January 2025 |language=en}}
The film was set in forbidding landscape of Limburg (Netherlands) and was shot in November and December, 2023. In the words of the director, "It was grey and rainy all the time, just as we wanted it, and it suited us we wanted it that way." He further explained, "It just had to feel uncomfortable all the time."{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/michiel-ten-horn-on-his-rotterdam-opener-fabula-its-between-comedy-crime-and-fantasy/5201125.article |title=Michiel ten Horn on his Rotterdam opener 'Fabula': "It's between comedy, crime and fantasy"|first= Geoffrey|last= Macnab |date=30 January 2025 |access-date=30 January 2025 |website=ScreenDaily |language=en}}
Principal photography began on 24 October 2023 on locations in Belgium, Germany - North Rhine-Westphalia, Netherlands. Filming ended on 13 December 2023 with filming locations in the regions of Belgium, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Netherlands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crew-united.com/en/Fabula__292965.html |title=Fanula: 2023-2024, Black Comedy, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands |website= Crew United |date= 5 December 2024|access-date=6 January 2025|language=en}}
Release
Fabula had its world premiere on 30 January 2025, as part of the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam, in Limelight as opening film.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/rotterdam-2025-unveils-opening-and-closing-films/5199988.article |title=Rotterdam 2025 unveils opening and closing films |first=Livia |last=Sasso|work=Screen Daily|date=10 December 2024|access-date=6 January 2025}}
It will be showcased in the official selection Out of competition at the Luxembourg City Film Festival on 8 March 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.luxfilmfest.lu/films/fabula/ |title=Fabula|date=13 February 2025|access-date=20 February 2025|website= Luxembourg City Film Festival |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/culture/luxembourg-city-film-festival-returns-for-15th-edition/40478846.html |title=Luxembourg City Film Festival returns for 15th edition|author= Tómas Atli Einarsson|date=12 February 2025|access-date=20 February 2025|website= Luxembourg Times |language=en}}
Reception
Wendy Ide reviewed the film at Rotterdam for ScreenDaily and criticized its pace, writing, "the film’s pacing drags". Ide opined that "Despite the best efforts of the assertively whimsical score, the dated and heavy-handed comedy fails to land". Stating her opinion she said , that the film is "An absurdist, meandering crime comedy" which drifts into fantasy and magical realism, ultimately becoming bogged down by its intricate storyline. Concluding review Ide deemed it "a misfire" and said, "And there’s a curious contradiction at the heart of the picture – the characters are cartoonish and grotesque, but the look of the film is, for the most part, grey-tinged and glumly realist."{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/fabula-rotterdam-review/5201069.article|title='Fabula': Rotterdam Review |author=Wendy Ide |date=31 January 2025 |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=ScreenDaily |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title}}
- {{Rotten tomatoes}}
Category:2020s German-language films
Category:2025 crime comedy films
Category:German-language crime comedy films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:2020s Dutch-language films
Category:Films shot in Germany
Category:Films shot in Belgium