Sweet Dreams

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Sweet Dreams

2024

1h 42m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

100%

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16 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

For the family and business led by the imperious patriarch Jan (Hans Dagelet), the rot had clearly set in long before these events. That said, Jan isn't around to see the changes to come, what with his sudden death after one of his nightly visits to the room of Siti (Hayati Azis), his Indonesian housekeeper. With the disorder in the household further compounded by a workers' protest, his widow Agathe (Renée Soutendijk) demands the return from Europe of Jan's pompous son Cornelius (Florian Myjer) and heavily pregnant daughter-in-law Josefin (Lisa Zweerman). When they all learn of Jan's decision to bequeath his estate to his son with Siti, the ensuing power struggles add a further degree of turbulence.

William Repass

Slant Magazine

Apr 7, 2024

3/4

The film captures the putrefaction of colonial rule with a morbid sense of humor.

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Namrata Joshi

The New Indian Express

Oct 26, 2023

Sendijarevic uses the power of the deadpan to make a larger political point, be it in the blunt, automated, staccato way in which the story progresses or the deliberately poker-faced performances of the key players.

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Jessica Kiang

Variety

Aug 26, 2023

Ena Sendijarević's drolly exquisite Indonesia-set period parable makes for a startlingly accomplished sophomore film.

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Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

Jun 11, 2024

"Sweet Dreams" conveys a truthful critique more devastating than any documentary on a world divided into the cruel haves and disadvantaged have-nots, the white and the Indigenous. It is a successful, powerful film.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

May 21, 2024

Contrastingly becalmed -- if sinister -- is this blackly comedic indictment...

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

May 17, 2024

"An interesting, if sometimes shallow, rumination on the lingering scars of colonialism."

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Vera O

@RT45235402 Sep 13, 2025

Haunting and so northern european in its sensebility. I loved it! It was refreshing to see a non-Hollywood movie.

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Ena Sendijarević

Director

Renée Soutendijk

Agathe

Florian Myjer

Cornelis

Lisa Zweerman

Josefien

Muhammad Khan

Reza

Hans Dagelet

Jan

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Sweet Dreams: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

For the family and business led by the imperious patriarch Jan (Hans Dagelet), the rot had clearly set in long before these events. That said, Jan isn't around to see the changes to come, what with his sudden death after one of his nightly visits to the room of Siti (Hayati Azis), his Indonesian housekeeper. With the disorder in the household further compounded by a workers' protest, his widow Agathe (Renée Soutendijk) demands the return from Europe of Jan's pompous son Cornelius (Florian Myjer) and heavily pregnant daughter-in-law Josefin (Lisa Zweerman). When they all learn of Jan's decision to bequeath his estate to his son with Siti, the ensuing power struggles add a further degree of turbulence.

Director: Ena Sendijarević
Producer: Erik Glijnis, Leontine Petit
Screenwriter: Ena Sendijarević, Ena Sendijarević
Distributor: Dekanalog
Production Co: Film i Väst, Plattform Produktion, Lemming Film
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Dutch
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 42m

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