Elise Schaap
Sara
Overview
Haunted by memories of her broken marriage and a fight with her daughter, a woman joins an intense self-help retreat when her vacation goes awry.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Volcano and the Void
I’ve been thinking about the way some films feel like they’re happening just out of frame, like a conversation you walk in on mid-sentence and can never quite catch up to. Stromboli (2022), Michiel van Erp’s Dutch drama, is one of those films. It doesn’t so much unfold as it does smolder—quiet, insistent, and a little mysterious. At 86 minutes, it’s brief enough to feel like a sketch, but the weight of what it’s trying to say lingers long after the credits roll.
Or at least, it wants to linger. The question is whether it earns that weight, or if it’s just borrowing it from the myth of its namesake: Stromboli, the volcanic island that looms like a warning in the Mediterranean.
The synopsis—what little we have of it—hints at a story of fracture and retreat. A woman, played by Elise Schaap, is haunted by the collapse of her marriage and a fight with her daughter. When her vacation goes awry, she finds herself at an intense self-help retreat, a place that promises transformation but might only deepen the cracks.
It’s the kind of premise that could go in any number of directions: a scathing satire of wellness culture, a raw character study of grief, or even a slow-burn thriller about the dangers of self-delusion. What Stromboli actually delivers is something more elusive, and more frustrating.
Van Erp’s film is, above all, a study in isolation—not just the physical kind, though the setting (whether Stromboli itself or some other remote outpost) certainly reinforces that, but the emotional and psychological kind. The camera lingers on Schaap’s face, searching for something beneath the surface. There’s a stillness to her performance, a refusal to emote in the ways we’ve come to expect from dramas about women in crisis.
She doesn’t cry, doesn’t rage, doesn’t even seem particularly sad. Instead, she moves through the world like someone who’s already checked out, her body present but her mind somewhere else. It’s a risky choice, and one that pays off in moments—like a scene where she sits in a group therapy circle, her expression unreadable as the others around her spill their guts.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
Audience 6.8/10
"A slow-burn drama with strong lead performance but struggles to fully engage due to its pacing and familiar themes."
Elise Schaap’s portrayal of Sara is widely praised for its emotional depth, anchoring the film’s exploration of personal trauma and healing. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, some find the narrative’s slow pace and predictable retreat storyline less compelling, leaving the film feeling somewhat underwhelming despite its atmospheric setting.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performance Elise Schaap delivers a nuanced and emotionally resonant performance as Sara, drawing viewers into her character’s journey.
- Atmospheric setting The volcanic island of Stromboli provides a striking and moody backdrop that enhances the film’s introspective tone.
Common complaints
- Slow pacing The film’s deliberate pace may test the patience of some viewers, particularly in its middle acts.
- Predictable storyline The retreat narrative and themes of personal healing follow familiar tropes, limiting the film’s sense of originality.
- Underdeveloped supporting cast While Schaap shines, the supporting characters lack depth, making their roles feel secondary to the plot.
Recommended for
Fans of introspective dramas Elise Schaap admirers Slow-burn character studies Atmospheric film lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Stromboli (2022): A Dutch Drama with International Flair
Michiel van Erp’s Stromboli (2022) arrived with a quiet buzz, blending Dutch storytelling with a star-studded international cast. The film, a drama set against the backdrop of the eponymous volcanic island, marks a departure from van Erp’s documentary roots while retaining his signature emotional depth. latestnetflix.com's take is that here’s what we know about its making—and the challenges of standing out in a year crowded with high-profile releases.
A Director’s Shift: From Docs to Drama
Van Erp, best known for his influential documentaries and acclaimed Dutch TV dramas 
, took a bold step with Stromboli. Born in Eindhoven in 1963, he studied industrial design before pivoting to filmmaking, a background that might explain his meticulous approach to visual storytelling. While his earlier work often explored real-life narratives, Stromboli ventures into fiction, though its themes—isolation, identity, and human connection—echo his documentary preoccupations .
The film’s setting, the volcanic island of Stromboli, isn’t just a picturesque locale; it’s a character in itself. The choice mirrors Roberto Rossellini’s 1950 classic of the same name, though van Erp’s version carves its own path. Unlike Rossellini’s neorealist masterpiece, which starred Ingrid Bergman, the 2022 Stromboli leans into a more contemporary, ensemble-driven drama .
Casting a Global Ensemble
The film’s cast is a mix of Dutch and international talent, a rarity for a mid-budget European production. Elise Schaap, one of the Netherlands’ most recognizable actresses, leads the pack, bringing her signature blend of vulnerability and strength. Alongside her, British veterans Tim McInnerny (Game of Thrones, Blackadder) and Anna Chancellor (The Crown, Pride & Prejudice) add gravitas, while Swedish actor Christian Hillborg (The Bridge) and Dutch comedian Pieter Embrechts round out the ensemble .
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The international casting suggests a deliberate effort to broaden the film’s appeal beyond Dutch borders. Netflix’s involvement—evident from the multiple language trailers (Dutch, Swedish, and subtitled clips)—hints at a streaming-driven release strategy . The platform’s global reach likely played a role in securing such a diverse cast, though details about their contracts or on-set dynamics remain scarce.
Reception: A Quiet Debut
Stromboli premiered to modest fanfare, with critics and audiences offering mixed but not damning feedback. On SensCritique, the French review aggregator, it holds a 5.2/10 rating based on 34 votes—a lukewarm reception that contrasts with the 7.2/10 score of Rossellini’s 1950 film . Rotten Tomatoes, meanwhile, lists the cast but offers no aggregated score, suggesting limited critical coverage in English-language outlets .
The film’s 86-minute runtime is notably shorter than the 1950 version’s 103 minutes, a choice that may reflect modern audience preferences or budget constraints. Whether this brevity serves the story or leaves it underdeveloped is a point of debate among viewers .
Unanswered Questions
Despite the available details, Stromboli (2022) remains something of an enigma. Key questions linger:
- Budget and Production: No official figures have surfaced about the film’s budget or financing. Given the cast and Netflix’s involvement, it’s likely a mid-tier production, but specifics are absent from the evidence.
- On-Set Stories: There are no verified behind-the-scenes anecdotes, conflicts, or directorial challenges reported in the snippets. Van Erp’s transition from documentaries to fiction might have posed creative hurdles, but the evidence doesn’t confirm this.
YTYouTube·STROMBOLI (2022) | Officiële NL trailer, vanaf 3… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VjB66Qvig- Themes and Inspiration: While the volcanic island setting is evocative, the snippets don’t clarify how deeply the film engages with its namesake’s mythos. Is it a loose inspiration or a central metaphor? The trailers suggest the former .
The Verdict: A Film Worth Watching?
For fans of van Erp’s work, Stromboli offers a chance to see him flex his narrative muscles in a new genre. The cast’s pedigree and the striking location are undeniable draws, even if the critical reception hasn’t set the world alight. The Netflix platform ensures accessibility, though the lack of widespread buzz might relegate it to "hidden gem" status rather than a breakout hit.
If you’re curious about a modern take on a classic setting—or simply enjoy ensemble dramas with a European flavor—Stromboli (2022) might be worth a stream. Just don’t expect it to eclipse Rossellini’s legacy.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.