Fedor Sendak
Upsurge of New Belgian Cinema
I am deeply impressed by the new upsurge in Belgian cinema, so next Sunday night at the OT 301 we will take a look at two recent French-Belgian films. This cinema has its own type of humor, which is low-key and deadpan but surrealistic at the same time. It will be a wonderful evening so I hope you can make it next Sunday....!
- Jeffrey
An night of
BOULI LANNERS
and the new French-Belgian cinema
SUNDAY OCTOBER 18
20:30
ELDORADO (2008)
Directed by Bouli Lanners
85 minutes
In French with English subtitles
This is a modern "road movie" full of surreal humor and which is typically Belgian in tone. It deals with two major themes: loneliness and dealing with one's past. Bouli Lanners both directs and stars in this film about a guy who discovers that a junkie has broken into his house, and once he captures him doesn't know what to do with him. The two set off on a cross country (Belgium that is) road trip and meet some truly strange characters, including an elderly nudist, a psychic (played by Gaspar Noe's Philippe Nahon), and others. Each scene contains an interestingly bizarre encounter, and the countryside is filmed with a relaxed beauty.
This is a film which takes its time, and unfolds at a unrushed, natural pace. The wild guitar band soundtrack underscores the unusual poetry of the film. I don't want to say any more about the plot, but its the kind of film where the main character's behavior seems irrational throughout, but at the end you piece together why he does what he does, and you reinterpret the entire film in your head. Wonderful.
This subtle and thoughtful comedy won the Best European Film at the Director's Fortnight at Cannes last year.
+
22:15
AALTRA (2006)
Directed by Gustave de Kervern and Benot Delpine
93 minutes
In French, Flemish, German and Finnish with English subtitles
This is a road movie on wheelchairs.
A rare combination of tragic drama and black humor, this highly politically incorrect film from Belgium is a real gem from start to finish. The story starts in a rural area south of Brussels, where Gus and Ben (played by the writer-directors, K/Vern and Delpine) are neighbors. Gus is a farmer and spends most of his time daydreaming on his tractor. Ben is a commuter, who has trouble at his work. Both are very unhappy with their lives but most off all, the two men work on each others nerves. But then there is a sudden accident and the two men wake up in a hospital next to each other....and end up on a journey in wheelchairs across Europe to their destination which is Finland.
Like I said this film is very politically incorrect, and much of the black humor stems from the way these two guys live and the general attitude of charity that our society has towards the disabled. Due to the almost universal belief in the goodness of disabled people in general, Gus and Ben are able to shamelessly take advantage of everyone they encounter. The fact is that the two men aren't in the least sympathetic- they are actually malevolent hostile bastards, pissed off at the world because of their situation.
Considering it's minimal budget, the cinematography is great. The film is beautifully shot in grainy black-and-white widescreen. Director Aki Kaurismki appears in the film and Bouli Lanners also comes in at the end in a dazzling key sequence. A key film in the genre of Belgian black humor.
CINEMA DERIVE
OVERTOOM 301
Time: 20:30 (doors open at 20:00)
Membership 4 Euros for the evening
Amsterdam, NL
Announcement
