‘Sukkwan Island’ Director Vladimir de Fontenay on Adapting ‘Legend of a Suicide’ Into a Psychological Sundance Thriller: ‘It’s a Tragedy, but One About Resilience’
variety.comElsa Keslassy International Correspondent Filming “Sukkwan Island,” a visceral psychological thriller premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, provided its French director Vladimir de Fontenay and everyone involved in the multi-national production with an epic yet transformative experience, mirroring that of the film’s protagonists.
Adapted from David Vann’s harrowing “Legend of a Suicide,” “Sukkwan Island” tells the story of 13 year-old, Tom (Swann Arlaud, “Anatomy of a Fall”), who agrees to spend a year of adventure with his estranged father, Roy (Woody Norman, “C’Mon, C’Mon”), deep in the Norwegian fjords.
Faced with the harsh realities of the relentless Arctic weather, the pair’s journey turns into a test of survival and brings out their inner turmoils.
De Fontenay’s follow-up to his 2017 feature debut “Mobile Homes,” “Sukkwan Island” was a passion project. He chased rights to the novel for years after his father gave him the book to read.
Read more on variety.com
