Reedland by Sven Bresser depicts contemporary rural Dutch life, where daily farming rituals collide with global pressures, family bonds, resulting in moral unease. Through striking imagery and evocative sound design, the film explores how tradition, isolation, and disruption shape the life of a solitary farmer in the reed fields.
Tag Archives: Belgium
TIFF 2024 Review: “Mr. K”
Mr. K”, the English-language debut of Norwegian-Dutch director Tallulah H. Schwab, is a surreal and disorienting experience set in the confines of a seemingly inescapable hotel. Starring Crispin Glover as the titular Mr. K, a traveling magician who checks in for a single night, Schwab creates a Kafkaesque nightmare comedy where the ordinary is warped beyond recognition, and every attempt to find an exit leads deeper into the bizarre.
Berlinale 2024 Review: “Rising Up at Night”
This work by Nelson Makengo, is an overwhelmingly evocative documentary that delves into the stark realities of life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly focusing on the struggles faced by residents in Kinshasa amid frequent power outages and devastating floods. Makengo depicts the struggle of his subjects that is as much about the physical darkness brought on by the lack of electricity as it is about the metaphorical darkness of living in a disaster-stricken area.
Leiden 2023 Review: “The Old Oak”
The Leiden International Film Festival (LIFF), spanning from October 26 to November 5 this year, presents a rich array of cinema, stretching from the thought-provoking arthouse to the more accessible mainstream, offering a feast for all film lovers. Since its first edition in 2006, it has blossomed into one of the Netherlands’ most-anticipated film gatherings. This review of Ken Loach’s ‘The Old Oak’ kicks off a series of reviews spotlighting some of the films showcased at LIFF.
VIFF 2023 Review: “Here”
© Cinema Guild With “Here”, Belgian auteur Bas Devos delivers another transcending meditative experience, reflecting both the familiar hallmarks of his filmmaking style and refreshingly innovative steps into brighter realms. As is familiar with Devos, viewers are treated to small leisurely walks along Belgian streets in a small but incredibly impactful portrayal of a fewContinue reading “VIFF 2023 Review: “Here””
San Sebastián 2023 Review: “A Silence”
In “A Silence”, Belgian writer-director Joachim Lafosse exposes the unsettling truth about abuse that often goes unnoticed in the shadows of societal achievements. The film unearths the disturbing realities that can exist within successful, bourgeois households by peeling back the layers of prosperity and success. Through its nuanced storytelling, Lafosse’s tenth feature film sheds light on cycles of abuse, the line between loyalty and complicity, and the insidiousness of silence, pulling back the curtain on the darker aspects of domestic life.
TIFF 2023 Review: “Bye Bye Tiberias”
Lina Soualem’s documentary “Bye Bye Tiberias” offers an emotionally charged and complex portrait of her family’s relationship with their Palestinian roots. Using archival footage, family interviews, reenactments, and personal reflection, the film examines the lasting emotional impact of displacement and the occupation on the Palestinian diaspora.
TIFF 2023 Review: “Mambar Pierrette”
Cameroonian-born, Belgium-based director Rosine Mbakam, known for her documentaries, makes a noteworthy venture into fiction with her debut narrative feature “Mambar Pierrette.” The film blends narrative storytelling with documentary-style elements to offer a genuine and authentic portrayal of everyday life in Douala, Cameroon. It avoids clichés and offers a nuanced perspective on the struggles and triumphs of the local community through the eyes of a dressmaker who plays a vital role in her community.
Venice 2023 Review: “Behind the Mountains”
“Behind the Mountains” by Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia shows the filmmaker delving into daringly new territories, as he adds a fantastical element to the social realist style he was previously known for with his acclaimed films “Hedi” and “Dear Son.” This film is an emotional tale about a father-son relationship that interweaves elements of reality and fantasy to dissect the complexities of human relationships and escapism.
Cannes 2023 Review: ´The (Ex)perience of Love´
In the whirlwind world of romantic comedies, Belgian directors Raphaël Balboni and Ann Sirot offer an exuberant and unexpectedly profound portrayal of love and infertility in their latest film, ‘The (Ex)perience of Love’. Premiering at the Semaine de la Critique sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is a light-hearted, yet thought-provoking cinematic achievement that delves into the complexities of modern relationships and the influence of past loves.
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