Rietland (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Hey, Dad.

I'll take it.

You want some of my bread?

Hand it over.

That work for you?

Can I watch TV?

Go ahead.

At the border, hundreds of refugees

are crossing through fields...

Wait by the car.

I came in by boat

and walked along the cut line.

That's when I saw there was

a gap in the reeds.

I followed the tracks.

And I found her.

And what did you do then?

I went back home

and called for help.

And after that?

Did you go look anywhere else?

No, I walked over

to the dirt path.

And I waited for you.

You were working

near that plot yesterday.

Could you walk us through

your schedule?

Yesterday, I took the boat out

to the plot at 6:30.

I started cutting.

I bundled up the reeds.

Around noon I had some bread.

In the afternoon,

I did more cutting,

bundled up more,

and burned some brush.

Around 5:30 I headed home.

Johan, do you ride a motorbike

or a moped?

Do you have one?

A motorbike? No.

Have you noticed a motocross bike

hanging around the area lately?

No.

No.

Where's Dana?

In the game room with the kids.

Come in, grab a coffee.

Dana!

Come on, we're going.

See you tomorrow.

Bye.

Hello?

Hey, Mom.

No, I just woke up.

Grandpa's not here,

he's feeding Grise.

Yeah, he'll be back soon.

I'm fine, it's warm downstairs

but a bit cold upstairs.

Leggings and a sweater.

Yeah, I know.

Grandpa's back.

Bye.

Hey, Aaf.

Yeah, it's awful.

On display at the Schokland Museum,

found in perfect condition

in the attic of a parish hall,

these intact radius and ulna bones,

beautifully fossilized,

along with a magnificent

second cervical vertebra

from a hippopotamus

that once lived here,

in the IJsselmeer region,

130,000 years ago.

These bones were discovered

during a dredging operation.

A beach, on a summer morning

The sea begins to roar

The sun seems to say goodbye

Darkness fills the air

I'm afraid no one will come

Suddenly a question grips me

Why? Why am I here alone?

Only the waves speak to me...

- Did you hear?

- Hear what?

A Trooter got arrested.

When?

This morning.

Who told you that?

Wout, just now.

It's a boy

she was seeing in secret.

Everyone be careful out there.

Yeah.

Disgusting, those Trooters.

What's a Trooter?

People from Ruinerveen,

from the other side of the lake.

Where'd you find her?

On my plot, in the reeds.

Near the stream.

When I got there in the morning,

I spotted a gap.

I followed the path,

and found her right there.

How horrible.

They arrested a Trooter.

They were seen together.

Where's all this headed?

To a roofer up north.

I've got a new client up there.

For the lot, 3.60 a bundle.

No.

I can't pay that anymore.

It's been 2.90 for months.

2.90?

No way.

That's what it's been for months.

The Klavers next door

got 3.60.

They got lucky.

The price of Chinese containers

has crashed.

We can't compete anymore.

2.90 a bundle.

What about quality?

After fifteen years of laying,

it holds up fine.

Fifteen years is nothing.

Ours have been holding for 35 or 40 years.

Times change.

I've got bills to pay too, you know.

Have you thought about getting

an industrial machine?

Not a chance.

Everyone in Ruinerveen has one.

Exactly.

Have you seen what

their land looks like?

So what?

They're trashing it. In two years

they'll have no reeds left.

It's faster and more profitable.

I'm done borrowing. I'd rather go under.

That's a shame. You've got to move forward.

Keep up with the times.

- Think about it.

- I already have.

The reeds will spend eight weeks

on a ship.

More, if the Suez Canal is jammed.

Everyone knows

that shipping

is the most polluting industry in the world.

Honestly, you have to wonder

why it isn't taxed more heavily.

Which brings us back to Brussels.

We're all part of

a global market.

We're interconnected,

which comes with opportunities

and challenges.

But that's just how it is.

We need to try to sort out

what can be handled locally

versus what's a European matter.

That's not something

you can change at a local level.

I'd like to suggest

we move on to the next item:

agricultural land leases.

Hello, I've already spoken

with some of you,

and I could clearly sense

that many are upset

about the shift

to liberalized leases.

I brought this up before,

but nobody listened.

Because there is a solution.

Switch back to standard leases. Done.

Why can't you do that?

The law is the law.

This has nothing to do with the law.

The law says standard leases

are perfectly allowed.

There's your solution.

Again, I understand

your concerns and your frustration.

But try to see the opportunities here,

look on the bright side.

The market is becoming more accessible.

I don't see anything positive.

This is a disaster.

Like Wilfred said,

it's going to destroy everything.

Our land is going to be ruined.

- There's nothing I can do.

- Where's the upside?

I can help you

with a creative approach,

entrepreneurial, flexible,

to help you navigate the change.

When I visited Ruinerveen,

I was struck to see

that they're upset too,

but they've also seen it as an opportunity.

Couldn't this be a chance

for you all to get to know each other better?

We already know them.

We don't want them here.

They've wrecked their own land,

and now they want to move in on ours?

Filthy Trooters.

First they r*pe and m*rder

one of our girls,

and now they want to come here

and take our land too?

- So, how's the new job?

- Which one?

Chauffeur to your granddaughter.

Can't wait for things to calm down.

Help yourself to a piece of cake,

it's in the fridge.

I'll be done in a minute.

There are rats under the floorboards, Jan.

Quite a wind today...

What's that black stuff on your hands?

Did you tar the barn?

Yeah.

How are the reeds doing?

Not great.

Why not?

Chinese container prices are collapsing,

it's hitting us hard,

and they're trying to pull our leases.

So yeah, not great.

Yeah, that doesn't sound good.

If you need money, just say the word.

- I can lend you some.

- I'm done borrowing.

Suit yourself.

I had to offer.

But how are things out in the field?

Isn't it weird going back there?

I'm going out tonight,

it's Rosalie's birthday.

Alright, have fun.

Dana!

Time for bed.

Come on, get to bed.

I'm paralyzed.

Let's go.

I'm paralyzed, I can't move.

Can you read me a story?

What kind of story?

Just a story.

When I was your age,

I used to go out in the reeds with my dad.

There was a pit

full of murky water.

The pit kept getting bigger

and bigger.

They used to dig peat there.

It was cursed land.

My dad warned me

to stay away from the edge,

because there was a monster

that ate children.

I didn't believe it.

So one day,

I went out with my friend Gradus

to look for eggs on the plot

where we cut the reeds.

I told him: "Gradus...

"Stay away from the pit,

there's a monster in there."

But Gradus didn't listen.

"Monsters don't exist."

I told him:

"Watch out, keep away from the edge."

You know what he did?

He started poking with a stick.

I said: "Stop it,

or the monster's gonna get you."

But he didn't listen and kept going.

At one point,

he shoved the stick into the water.

I watched him.

Suddenly he was gone,

dragged under with his stick.

I plunged my hand into the water.

All I saw were bubbles.

I felt his stick,

then a sharp sting on my finger.

I never saw Gradus again.

But when I'm working

on that plot,

at the spot where he disappeared,

I hear a distant voice:

"Help me...

"Help me..."

Grandpa, I want to sleep.

Good night.

Industrial farming machinery

Hey there, handsome.

What's your name?

You still there?

What's your name?

Johan.

Hey, Johan.

How was your day?

Good.

I've been waiting for you.

Where do you live?

The Netherlands.

Are you home alone?

Yeah.

Johan...

Are you lonely?

Don't be shy.

You're so cute.

You turned on?

You wanna f*ck me, Johan?

Johan?

You wanna f*ck me?

Hello?

You think Grise misses grandma?

Yeah, I think so.

But we're taking good care of her.

Does she always eat the same thing?

No, I give her pellets too,

or apple peels.

Could we make her something to eat?

What would you want to make her?

A pasta dish.

With nuts, some bread,

zucchini...

Grandpa, you coming?

Luka!

Come here.

Does anyone at the Petters'

have a motorbike?

Yeah.

Morris.

A motocross bike.

Why?

Just curious.

Have a good day.

Good morning, sir.

Mrs. Petter.

Johan Braad?

Yes, hello.

Beautiful sunshine, isn't it?

Which barn?

The one at the far end of the farm,

the wooden one.

Are you absolutely sure

that's the right bike?

Yes.

Positive.

Did you take a photo?

No.

I didn't take a photo.

So you think

Ren Petter is involved?

No, his son Morris.

He's got a motocross bike.

Alright,

Johan.

I'm taking note

of all this.

It'll be useful for the investigation.

But it's not your place

to play detective.

Let's be clear about that.

Understood?

I understand.

We're putting on the play

The Sunken Village.

You know it?

Of course.

You're playing the mermaid?

Roles haven't been assigned yet.

Everyone has to propose an ending scene,

and the jury picks one.

I already have an idea.

And I need your help.

With what?

Hippo costumes.

Hippo costumes?

Yes, hippo costumes.

And I need you to play a role.

The giant hippo.

Absolutely not.

Why not?

I can help with the costumes,

but I'm not getting on stage.

But why not?

That's just how it is, Dana.

Not happening.

Damn, the gate's open.

Dana?

Dana, come upstairs.

Dana, come upstairs.

Only if you help me with the play.

With the costumes.

But I'm not going on stage.

Dana, come up.

Can you grab that string?

Like this.

That's it, good.

First layer, nice and tight.

Will that be enough?

- For the hippo?

- Yeah.

No.

But we're going to do

four or six layers.

To give it a big round belly.

- Good for you?

- Yeah.

Can you finish this bit?

Grab more reeds.

- Wrap it around.

- Like this?

There you go.

I'll have it finished for you

by next week.

I'll just thread this through here...

So?

Try it on.

- Do you like it?

- Yeah.

4,000.

Good.

Here's to a fine foal, Johan.

- I hope so.

- It will be.

Cheers.

...to put pressure on

The Hague and Brussels

so that the wolf

is no longer a protected species.

In local news,

the suspect in the m*rder

of Elise Veenstra

has been released.

According to his lawyer,

there is no evidence against him.

At the time of the m*rder,

this young man from Ruinerveen

was in Brabant for work.

The investigation has stalled,

with no leads pointing to the k*ller.

And now, the weather:

this afternoon,

a low-pressure system moves in from the west,

bringing strong gusts

and heavy rainfall across the province.

What are you doing, Aleida?

Get in.

Someone was supposed to pick me up at the stop,

but my phone died.

You shouldn't be hitchhiking.

- You know that, right?

- I had no choice, my phone was dead.

Are you singing at the village festival?

Yeah, after Dana's performance

I'm singing.

Thank you.

Aleida...

Yes?

Never mind.

Morning.

Morning.

How's it going?

Not too well.

This cow is sick.

It's liver fluke.

She has to be put down.

- That's not good.

- No.

But that's how it goes.

Need anything?

Yeah, I was out in the reeds.

I've run out of diesel.

Can I get some here?

Of course. Morris, get him some diesel

so he can get back to work.

- Hey, Aaf.

- Hey, Dad.

I'm already here.

So...

it starts at 8 tonight,

but we're having dinner first.

Yeah, the bus is here.

She's coming.

Yeah.

Yeah, great.

Bye.

The village is flooded,

the people have lost their loved ones.

They're all crying in a caf.

We walk in.

They're all in shock.

They're terrified when they see us.

They barricade themselves

with tables and chairs.

Little by little,

they all transform

into hippos,

and it becomes this huge parade of hippos

through the whole village.

Where are they going to get costumes?

They'll make them.

They form one big group,

all lined up,

and they go:

left, right.

Left, right,

left, right, left,

and then...

Who's that?

Grandpa...

Good evening. This is Harm.

I'm calling about the investigation.

Good evening.

We went to the Petters'.

After a thorough search,

we found nothing.

No bikes, no tracks, nothing at all.

That's impossible.

It must have been moved.

It's kind of you to want to help,

but it's not your job

to conduct an investigation.

I hope you understand that.

Leave the Petters alone

and let us do our job.

Good evening.

Let me go, set me free!

Greed has blinded you.

People of Rijpekolk,

share your wealth with the poor,

or your village will be swallowed up.

Only the towers will remain.

Release me!

No way, mermaid. You belong to us.

I'm saying it one last time:

your village will be swallowed up,

only the towers will remain.

Let me go.

We've got you.

We're taking you back to the village,

to k*ll you and eat you.

You'll regret this,

I'll put a curse on you.

Let me go!

Right now!

Grandpa, you okay?

Yeah, but get me out from under here.

- Grandpa, what's wrong?

- Stay back.

Grandpa, what's wrong?

What's the matter with Grise?

What's going on?

Reedland

For my mother,

who showed me the reeds