Nicoline, an experienced psychologist, starts a new job at a penal institution. She meets Idris, a sex offender who committed a series of grave crimes. After five years of treatment, he is about to go on his first unaccompanied probation. His team of practitioners are enthusiastic about his development but newcomer Nicoline does not trust him and tries to push his probation. Idris tries his hardest to convince Nicoline of his good intentions, but slowly but surely, he transforms into the manipulative man she saw in him from the beginning. A power play emerges between the two and Nicoline, in spite of her knowledge and experience, lets herself be trapped completely.

Direction: Halina Reijn

Script: Esther Gerritsen, Halina Reijn

Production: Frans van Gestel

Co-Production: Arnold Heslenfeld, Laurette Schillings

Cinematography: Jasper Wolf

Editing: Job ter Burg

Production Design: Lieke Scholman

Costume Design: Minke Lunter

Make-Up: Gerda Koekoek

Sound: Oliver Pattinama

Original Score: Ella van der Woude

Cast: Carice van Houten, Marwan Kenzari

Original Title: INSTINCT

Original Language: Dutch

Film Production Country: Netherlands

Social Media: Instagram: @instinctfilmnl @filmsboutique @halinareijn @leavecaricealone

Biography of the Director/s
Born in 1975, Halina Reijn is a Dutch actress, director, writer and producer. She created the successful Dutch TV series MEISJE VAN PLEZIER (2017) and co-created a Dutch/ Belgian TV series about human trafficking and prostitution. Next to being one of the creators of the show, she is also co-producing with Man Up and set to star in one of the lead roles.
She worked with the renowned theatre director Ivo van Hove for 15 years and toured the world with their plays, while combining her stage work with film.
During her second year at the Maastricht Theatre Academy, Halina was offered a contract by Theu Boermans, a well-known Dutch director and at the time artistic leader of ‘Toneelgroep Amsterdam’, an Amsterdam theatre company. Halina left the academy in her second year to debut on stage as Ophelia in HAMLET. In the same year, she landed a role in ZUS & ZO, a film directed by Paula van der Oest which picked up the US Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film 2003. The Maastricht Theatre Academy, normally a four-year education, allowed Halina to graduate early because of her special qualities. Hereafter she has been working at the Amsterdam Theatre Company, performing in plays such as LULU, HEDDA GABLER, MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA, THREE SISTERS, A DOLL HOUSE and MARIA STUART. She toured all over the world with Jean Cocteau’s monologue LA VOIX HUMAINE. Most recently, she played opposite Jude Law in OBSESSION.
In the meantime, she continued to work on film and TV series as well. In 2006 Halina starred in Paul Verhoeven’s critically acclaimed BLACK BOOK. Her performance in this film didn’t go unnoticed, and Bryan Singer offered her a role in his 2008 film VALKYRIE. Other projects include IN THERAPIE, the Dutch version of the HBO hit series IN TREATMENT, and the title role in CHARLIE, the Dutch remake of Showtime’s NURSE JACKIE. She worked with Peter Greenaway on GOLTZIUS & THE PELICAN COMPANY and played the lead role in ISABELLE, by Ben Sombogaart. Last year, she played in the Swedish TV series CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE, directed by Charlotte Brändström.

Awards Won
Variety Piazza Grande Award - Locarno IFF 2019
Best Performance Award, Young Audience Award & Cineuropa Award - Les Arcs FF 2019
Best Actor Award - Aswan Women FF 2020

Production Company:
Topkapi Films
Kloveniersburgwal 131 – III
Amsterdam, 1011, Netherlands
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 20 30 32 494
Website: https://www.topkapifilms.nl/

World Sales:
Films Boutique
Köpenicker Str. 184
Berlin, 10997, Germany
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +49 30 69 53 78 50
Website: https://filmsboutique.com/

Press:
Films Boutique
Köpenicker Str. 184
Berlin, 10997, Germany
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +49 30 69 53 78 50
Website: https://filmsboutique.com/