Sam Riley Reflects On “Beautiful Experience” of ‘Islands’ Filmmaking: “It Was A Dream”

Sam Riley (Control) landed a creatively gratifying role in Islands, and the feature has received its share of critical acclaim. Set in the island of Fuerteventura, the narrative centers on a hotel resort tennis coach (Riley) who becomes involved in the complex lives of a married couple (Stacy Martin, Jack Farthing). Riley talked to Deepest Dream about what made Islands, directed and co-written by Jan-Ole Gerster, a “beautiful experience.”

A 121-minute thriller with film noir stylings, Islands was penned by Jan-Ole Gerster, Blaž Kutin and Lawrie Doran. The role of burnt out tennis coach was a part that Riley immediately wanted.

“I read it here in Berlin and I knew Ole’s work,” said Riley, who joked he had never worn a baseball cap backwards before Islands. “For me it was partly sort of (for) selfish reasons really. Because I was in every single scene. And I don’t get offered jobs where I get to be (that) involved. It was a beautiful character and it was a dream.”

Although cast and crew did not stay at the hotel featured in Islands, they all stayed in a nearby hotel. “That way we all stayed close to one another and formed bonds. It made it feel like a real team effort (and) it was a beautiful experience.”

Here are my podcast interviews with Stacy Martin/Sam Riley and Jan Ole-Gerster/Jack Farthing on Find Your Film:

Islands is now playing in theaters, and it’s a movie I absolutely recommend. Share your thoughts on the film in the comments!

Bruce Purkey reviews Islands on this week’s CinemAddicts (listen on different platforms):

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