Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival 2026: Isola

Fanny Ardant stars as caretaker Ada in Nora Jaenicke’s psychological drama Isola. She’s hired by Joanna (Joanna Kulig) to help look after her bedridden older husband, with the two women quickly sparking an intimate friendship. However, Joanna is already infatuated with charming artist Joaquin (Marco Rossetti), setting the stage for a cat-and-mouse love triangle in which each person harbours their own hidden desires. Elegantly shot and featuring a dazzling turn from Ardant, the film whisks viewers into a lush Mediterranean setting, but ultimately lacks the narrative depth to deliver on its compelling premise.

Joanna is trapped in all aspects of her life. She lives on an island, spending most of her day in an isolated villa looking after a husband she no longer loves. She consequently sees her relationships with Joaquin and Ada as a chance for her to escape to a new life, but even these romances threaten to control and manipulate her. Despite Ada initially taking on a motherly role, reading to Joanna in bed and buying her clothes, the caretaker’s increasing protectiveness towards her hints at a darker agenda. Ardant gives a wonderful performance. Always cool and enigmatic, she never reveals what Ada’s true intentions are, allowing elements of the mystery to quietly simmer away. Kulig and Rossetti also give commendable turns, although their characters aren’t written with the same level of intrigue as Ada.

Filled with breathtaking aerial shots and a stirring score, this feature is remarkably well made. Each frame is marvellously constructed, transporting viewers to an idyllic setting surrounded by gorgeous sea views. Its minimalistic approach lends an intimate feel to the narrative, but the script is unfortunately not strong enough to carry the themes Jaenicke touches upon. The main issue is that the characters keep their motivations close to their chests for almost the entire runtime, meaning that there’s no opportunity to develop the key players or plot in substantial ways. When the climax arrives, it lacks the emotional bite the filmmaker was aiming for.

Isola is about a woman’s search for freedom. While the script leaves the overarching mystery and characters lacking in depth, Ardant’s splendid performance is easily this feature’s greatest asset.

Andrew Murray

Isola does not have a release date yet.

For further information about the event, visit the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival website here.