De Eerste Zone

In this dystopian science fiction film, shot in Friesland and Groningen, much of the Netherlands lies submerged following a devastating climate catastrophe. The hardened Fenna has managed to survive all on her own inside the nacelle of an abandoned wind turbine, but this existence comes to an abrupt end when a storm separates her from her familiar home base. What follows is a solitary journey across the endless expanse of water. Fenna’s path crosses with those of other survivors, and long-suppressed memories from before the disaster—of warmth, connection, and human contact—resurface, forcing her to shed her emotional defenses. Does she truly want to be alone? Through enchanting visuals of recognizable Frisian and Groninger landscapes, the timely De Eerste Zone paints a frightening picture of the future, exposing not only the fragility of our planet but also the inescapable, deep-rooted traits of human nature.

De Eerste Zone marks the feature film debut of director Thom Lunshof, a native of Leeuwarden. The film premiered this summer at the 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival. It had its Dutch premiere in October as part of the First Feature Competition at the Leiden International Film Festival. The screening at the Noordelijk Film Festival marks its Frisian premiere.