Directed by Jan-Ole Gerster, 2025, Germany, Not Rated, 121 minutes, partially subtitled

Tom (Sam Riley), a tennis instructor at a luxury island resort, drifts through a life of pleasant routines and emotional detachment until the arrival of a troubled family unsettles his carefully maintained distance. As relationships shift and hidden tensions emerge, the film transforms into an atmospheric and quietly suspenseful portrait of loneliness, longing, and identity. Premiering at the Berlin International Film Festival, Islands drew strong praise for its restraint and subtle emotional depth. Critics highlighted Gerster’s ability to create tension through mood rather than spectacle, with one review calling it “a slow-burning, elegantly crafted study of isolation and unease,” anchored by Riley’s nuanced central performance.

Munson Film Series is sponsored by M&T Bank and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.