Benelux Challenge (Official, June 2023)

pitchorneirda · #41

Spoiler

1. Rembrandt fecit 1669 (1977, Jos Stelling) - 8/10 Netherlands
2. De wisselwachter (1986, Jos Stelling) - 5/10 Netherlands
3. Casta Diva (1982, Eric de Kuyper) - 7/10 Belgium
4. Hôtel Monterey (1973, Chantal Akerman) - 4/10 Belgium

5. Rooksporen (1992, Frans van de Staak) - 5.5/10 Netherlands

The very poor English subtitles have clearly affected my appreciation of it.
It was intriguing though maybe a bit too long for what it tries to achieve.

maxwelldeux · #42

1. Girl (2018, Belgium) - 7/10
Comments in LGBTQ+

gunnar · #43

4 - Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) - 6/10 - #Belgium - A woman is having trouble dealing with a breakup so she spends a lot of time in her apartment. At first she moves the furniture around and writes (and rewrites) a letter. Then she spends a ton of time sitting or lying on her mattress in the nude, eating sugar out of a paper bag. When she finally leaves she hitchhikes and gets a ride to visit her former lover. It was okay, but I got kind of bored with it at times, especially during the trip to visit the lover.

5 - Black Butterflies (2011) - 6/10 - Netherlands - This biography of South African poet Ingrid Jonker mostly takes place in the early-mid 1960s. She and her father disagree on many things and she is portrayed as being pretty unstable. The movie is a bit dull.

6 - Felice… Felice… (1998) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands - In 1895, photographer Felice Beato returns to Japan in search of the wife he left behind. Beato was a popular person during his earlier time in Japan, but finds that much has changed in his absence and he no longer fits in. The film is kind of slow and melancholy, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

7 - Secret Wedding (1989) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands - A man is found walking naked down a street in Buenos Aires thinking it is 1976. The police archives help fill in his past and he decides to return to his hometown and try to find the woman he loves. He finds her, but she does not recognize him and has issues of her own. He decides to get close to her as a friend. This is an Argentine/Netherlands film that won the Gouden Kalf.

Spoiler

1 - Fanfare (1958) - 8/10 - Netherlands
2 - Little Sister / Zusje (1995) - 5.5/10 - Netherlands
3 - Hotel Monterey (1973) - 3/10 - #Belgium

Arkantos · #44

4. Soldier of Orange (1977, Paul Verhoeven), Netherlands

Benelux

Belgium
1. Je tu il elle (1974, Chantal Akerman)

Netherlands
1. The Vanishing (1988, George Sluizer)
2. Flesh+Blood (1985, Paul Verhoeven)
3. Soldier of Orange (1977, Paul Verhoeven)

jdidaco · #45

9. L'homme de Mykonos (The Man from Mykonos, René Gainville, 1966) 7/10 (Belgium)
10. Home Sweet Home/La fête à Jules (Benoît Lamy, 1973) 7.5/10 (Belgium)
11. Le 15/8 (Chantal Akerman & Samy Szlingerbaum, 1975) 8/10 (Belgium)
12. Cha-Cha (Herbert Curiel, 1979) 7.5/10 (Netherlands)

Nina Hagen & Lene Lovich in Amsterdam!

,

Spoiler

1. Aline (François Weyergans, 1967) 8/10 (Belgium)
2. João en het mes/A Faca E o Rio (João and the Knife, George Sluizer, 1972) 8/10 (Netherlands)
3. Miss O'Gynie et les hommes fleurs (Miss O'Gynie and the Flower Men, Samy Pavel, 1974) 7.5/10 (Belgium)
4. Casta Diva (Eric De Kuyper, 1982) 10/10

(Belgium)
5. It's Me (Frans Zwartjes, 1976) 9/10 (Netherlands)
6. Une page d'amour (One Page of Love, Maurice Rabinowicz, 1978) 8/10 (Belgium)
7. Een vrouw als Eva (A Woman Like Eve, Nouchka van Brakel, 1979) 7.5/10 (Netherlands)
8. Kyodai Makes the Big Time (Aryan Kaganof, 1992) 8.5/10 (Netherlands)

Lammetje · #46

We are at about one-third of the challenge now, so it's time for an update and a few stats. The number of participants is at 15 now. Jdidaco and Tngy are currently in the lead, with each of them having accumulated 12 points.

Country	Points
Netherlands	35
Belgium	23
Luxembourg	1

pitchorneirda · #47

Spoiler

1. Rembrandt fecit 1669 (1977, Jos Stelling) - 8/10 Netherlands
2. De wisselwachter (1986, Jos Stelling) - 5/10 Netherlands
3. Casta Diva (1982, Eric de Kuyper) - 7/10 Belgium
4. Hôtel Monterey (1973, Chantal Akerman) - 4/10 Belgium
5. Rooksporen (1992, Frans van de Staak) - 5.5/10 Netherlands

6. Le fils (2022, Dardenne brothers) - 6/10 Belgium

A real acting masterclass by Olivier Gourmet

gunnar · #48

8 - Pauline & Paulette (2001) - 7/10 - #Belgium - Pauline is 66 years old, but with the mental ability of a young child. She lives with her older sister Martha, but when Martha dies, a choice has to be made whether Pauline will live with one of her two younger sister or be placed in an institution.

9 - Rosie (1998) - 7.5/10 - #Belgium - Rosie is a 13 year old girl who is in the process of being locked up in a juvenile facility. We find out her story and how she ended up there through long flashbacks. She lived with her mother in a small apartment in a rundown part of Antwerp. She has to call her mother her sister in public since her mother was only 14 when she had Rosie and wants to keep it a secret. There is the occasional boyfriend plus her mother's gambling addicted brother comes to stay with them. I thought it was pretty well acted.

10 - The Giants (2011) - 6/10 - #Belgium - Two teenage boys are left on their own during summer vacation while their mother is elsewhere. They are having a good time on what was once their grandfather's farm until they run out of money. They make a plan, but things don't go smoothly. I liked some parts of this, but some of it was a bit annoying, too.

Spoiler

1 - Fanfare (1958) - 8/10 - Netherlands
2 - Little Sister / Zusje (1995) - 5.5/10 - Netherlands
3 - Hotel Monterey (1973) - 3/10 - #Belgium
4 - Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) - 6/10 - #Belgium
5 - Black Butterflies (2011) - 6/10 - Netherlands
6 - Felice… Felice… (1998) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
7 - Secret Wedding (1989) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands

sol · #49

Thanks for the update/stats, Lammetje. I have a couple of Lux films in my watch-list. They are not high priorities, but it would be nice to give Lux a boost.

In the meantime:

Spoiler

1. Bullhead (2011) Belgium
2. Boys (2014) Netherlands
3. Close (2022) Belgium

4. Nude Area (2014) Netherlands

Fascinated by a similarly aged Arabic lady who she spotted at a public swimming pool, a lonely Dutch woman takes to stalking and spying on her in this experimental narrative that plays out without a single line of dialogue spoken aloud. The tension that writer-director Urszula Antoniak often manages to mount sans dialogue is remarkable with everything communicated through looks and stares. Curious as all this is, I have to agree with magnus (whose comment placed the film on my radar) that despite the cool concept, the film ultimately outstays its welcome even at less than 75 minutes long.

sol · #50

Spoiler

1. Bullhead (2011) Belgium
2. Boys (2014) Netherlands
3. Close (2022) Belgium
4. Nude Area (2014) Netherlands

5. Playground (2021) Belgium

Starting at a new school, a seven-year-old girl struggles to support her older brother who has become to school's latest bully target in this grim drama. Maya Vanderbeque and Günter Duret are both excellent in the main roles with deep, expressive eyes. They also look and interact a lot like brother and sister. The most striking aspect of the film though is the way that it is photographed, with the camera almost always limited to Vanderbeque's eye-level with the heads of all adults and older kids eerily cut off to emphasise just how helpless she feels. She also seems really stuck in a helpless situation.

klaus78 · #51

Spoiler

1. Crazy Love (Belgium 1987) 5/10
2. De zaak Alzheimer (Belgium 2003) 5/10
3. Abel (Netherlands 1986) 7/10

4. De stilte rond Christine M. (Netherlands 1982) 7/10
5. Soldaat van Oranje (Netherlands 1977) 7/10
6. Toto le héros (Belgium 1991) 6/10

blocho · #52

1. Boys (2014, Netherlands)
2. Just Friends (2018, Netherlands)
Comments in the Queer Challenge.

Arkantos · #53

5. Turkish Delight (1973, Paul Verhoeven), Netherlands

First Verhoeven film I've seen that I didn't like

Benelux

Belgium
1. Je tu il elle (1974, Chantal Akerman)

Netherlands
1. The Vanishing (1988, George Sluizer)
2. Flesh+Blood (1985, Paul Verhoeven)
3. Soldier of Orange (1977, Paul Verhoeven)
4. Turkish Delight (1973, Paul Verhoeven)

sol · #54

Spoiler

1. Bullhead (2011) Belgium
2. Boys (2014) Netherlands
3. Close (2022) Belgium
4. Nude Area (2014) Netherlands
5. Playground (2021) Belgium

6. Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) Belgium

Unable to console herself after a difficult breakup, a young woman spends her days lying on her mattress, walking around in the nude, writing letters and eating raw sugar in this acclaimed drama from Chantal Akerman. Casting herself in the lead role, Akerman provides a compelling performance with so much sadness/aimlessness conveyed with minimal dialogue and almost no character interactions until halfway in. That said, the first half of the movie quickly grows repetitive and it is oddly enough a truck driver who she rather randomly encounters in the middle section of the film who ends up more fascinating.

Lammetje · #55

3. Petit samedi (2020): 6/10 Belgium

A very personal, intimate documentary about a man who is addicted to heroin. I would have liked it more without the static camera shots (which are sadly not uncommon in typical art house fare).

Seen

1a. Greifensee (2013) Netherlands
1b. Gratis (2016) Netherlands
1c. Father and Daughter (2000) Netherlands
1d. Glas (1958) Netherlands
1e. Eén hagedis teveel (1960) Netherlands
1f. De wigwam (1911) Netherlands
1g. A Single Life (2014) Netherlands
2. Gutland (2017) Luxembourg
3. Petit samedi (2020) Belgium

Arkantos · #56

6. Black Book (2006, Paul Verhoeven), Netherlands

Benelux

Belgium
1. Je tu il elle (1974, Chantal Akerman)

Netherlands
1. The Vanishing (1988, George Sluizer)
2. Flesh+Blood (1985, Paul Verhoeven)
3. Soldier of Orange (1977, Paul Verhoeven)
4. Turkish Delight (1973, Paul Verhoeven)
5. Black Book (2006, Paul Verhoeven),

jdidaco · #57

(Screenshot from 'Trompe l'oeil'),

13. Trompe l'oeil (‎The Broken Mirror, Claude d'Anna, 1975) 9/10 (Belgium)
14. Vivement ce soir (A Good Day's Work, Patrick Van Antwerpen, 1985) 8/10 (Belgium)
15. Trilogie de nos vies défaites (Trilogy of Our Lives Undone, Vincent Dieutre, 2016) 9/10 (Belgium/Netherlands)
16. Splendid Isolation (Urszula Antoniak, 2022) 6.5/10 (Netherlands)

Spoiler

1. Aline (François Weyergans, 1967) 8/10 (Belgium)
2. João en het mes/A Faca E o Rio (João and the Knife, George Sluizer, 1972) 8/10 (Netherlands)
3. Miss O'Gynie et les hommes fleurs (Miss O'Gynie and the Flower Men, Samy Pavel, 1974) 7.5/10 (Belgium)
4. Casta Diva (Eric De Kuyper, 1982) 10/10

(Belgium)
5. It's Me (Frans Zwartjes, 1976) 9/10 (Netherlands)
6. Une page d'amour (One Page of Love, Maurice Rabinowicz, 1978) 8/10 (Belgium)
7. Een vrouw als Eva (A Woman Like Eve, Nouchka van Brakel, 1979) 7.5/10 (Netherlands)
8. Kyodai Makes the Big Time (Aryan Kaganof, 1992) 8.5/10 (Netherlands)
9. L'homme de Mykonos (The Man from Mykonos, René Gainville, 1966) 7/10 (Belgium)
10. Home Sweet Home/La fête à Jules (Benoît Lamy, 1973) 7.5/10 (Belgium)
11. Le 15/8 (Chantal Akerman & Samy Szlingerbaum, 1975) 8/10 (Belgium)
12. Cha-Cha (Herbert Curiel, 1979) 7.5/10 (Netherlands)

Arkantos · #58

7. La promesse (1996, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne), Belgium

Benelux

Belgium
1. Je tu il elle (1974, Chantal Akerman)
2. La promesse (1996, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne)

Netherlands
1. The Vanishing (1988, George Sluizer)
2. Flesh+Blood (1985, Paul Verhoeven)
3. Soldier of Orange (1977, Paul Verhoeven)
4. Turkish Delight (1973, Paul Verhoeven)
5. Black Book (2006, Paul Verhoeven)

gunnar · #59

11 - The Resistance Banker (2018) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands - This film tells the story of the men who set up a secret bank to fund the Dutch resistance activities during WWII. The film looks pretty good and is fairly well acted, but would have benefitted from a quicker pace and possibly shaving 15-20 minutes from the runtime.

12 - Abel (1986) - 4/10 - Netherlands - Abel is in his early 30s and still lives at home with his parents. He hasn't left the house in 10 years and spends a fair amount of time trying to cut flies in half with scissors and watching people with his binoculars. His father is exasperated with him and his mother is somewhat overprotective of him. I found the movie to be more annoying than funny.

13 - Black Book (2006) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands - A Jewish woman in the Netherlands infiltrates the Nazi headquarters for the Resistance toward the end of the war. It's a pretty entertaining film

14 - Love is All (2007) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands - The Dutch version of Love Actually is kind of mediocre, though it does have its moments.

15 - Simon (2004) - 7/10 - Netherlands - A gay dentist reunites with an old friend of his that he hasn't seen in over a decade. The friend is unlike the dentist in a number of way (his sexual habits in particular), but their friendship is rekindled before taking a more serious turn later in the film. I liked the second half of the film more than the earlier part, but overall it isn't bad.

Spoiler

1 - Fanfare (1958) - 8/10 - Netherlands
2 - Little Sister / Zusje (1995) - 5.5/10 - Netherlands
3 - Hotel Monterey (1973) - 3/10 - #Belgium
4 - Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) - 6/10 - #Belgium
5 - Black Butterflies (2011) - 6/10 - Netherlands
6 - Felice… Felice… (1998) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
7 - Secret Wedding (1989) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
8 - Pauline & Paulette (2001) - 7/10 - #Belgium
9 - Rosie (1998) - 7.5/10 - #Belgium
10 - The Giants (2011) - 6/10 - #Belgium

Lammetje · #60

gunnar wrote: ↑June 14th, 2023, 4:10 am 11 - The Resistance Banker (2018) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands - This film tells the story of the men who set up a secret bank to fund the Dutch resistance activities during WWII. The film looks pretty good and is fairly well acted, but would have benefitted from a quicker pace and possibly shaving 15-20 minutes from the runtime.

I watched this a couple of months ago and would give it the same rating. It looked nice, but it didn't wow me.

gunnar wrote: ↑June 14th, 2023, 4:10 am 12 - Abel (1986) - 4/10 - Netherlands

I didn't find the movie to be more annoying than funny.

Or did you?

gunnar · #61

Lammetje wrote: ↑June 14th, 2023, 9:45 am
gunnar wrote: ↑June 14th, 2023, 4:10 am 12 - Abel (1986) - 4/10 - Netherlands

I didn't find the movie to be more annoying than funny.
Or did you?

Whoops. Fixed, thanks.

gunnar · #62

16 - The Little Blonde Dead (1993) - 4.5/10 - Netherlands - This is a strange movie in some ways and not one that I really liked. We start when Valentijn Boecke is a kid and see a little bit of interaction with his teacher and also some with his family. His father seems a little crazy, damaged by what he went through during WWII. Valentijn grows up and has a brief fling with his former teacher and ends up with a kid as a result. He's not ready to be a father, but is better at it than his former teacher, who turns out to be pretty out there herself. The acting wasn't that great and the story just seemed kind of off.

17 - The Moving True Story of a Woman Ahead of Her Time (2001) - 6/10 - Netherlands - This biopic about a Frisian Dutch children's author from the late 1800s and early 1900s centers on her 16 year marriage to a Socialist politician. Unfortunately, the story seems a bit muddled at times and isn't particularly interesting.

These two films get me bronze on both of the Dutch official lists. Now I'll tackle the 10 films I need for the bronze on the Belgian list.

Spoiler

1 - Fanfare (1958) - 8/10 - Netherlands
2 - Little Sister / Zusje (1995) - 5.5/10 - Netherlands
3 - Hotel Monterey (1973) - 3/10 - #Belgium
4 - Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) - 6/10 - #Belgium
5 - Black Butterflies (2011) - 6/10 - Netherlands
6 - Felice… Felice… (1998) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
7 - Secret Wedding (1989) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
8 - Pauline & Paulette (2001) - 7/10 - #Belgium
9 - Rosie (1998) - 7.5/10 - #Belgium
10 - The Giants (2011) - 6/10 - #Belgium
11 - The Resistance Banker (2018) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
12 - Abel (1986) - 4/10 - Netherlands
13 - Black Book (2006) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
14 - Love is All (2007) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
15 - Simon (2004) - 7/10 - Netherlands

DudeLanez · #63

4. Ciske the Rat (1955, Wolfgang Staudte) 6/10 - Netherlands
5. Malpertuis (1971, Harry Kümel) 6/10 - Belgium

Spoiler

1. Medea (1982, Frans Zwartjes) 5,5/10 - Netherlands
2. The Lift (1983, Dick Maas) 4/10 - Netherlands
3. The Ardennes (2015, Robin Pront) 5/10 - Belgium
4. Ciske the Rat (1955, Wolfgang Staudte) 6/10 - Netherlands
5. Malpertuis (1971, Harry Kümel) 6/10 - Belgium

klaus78 · #64

Spoiler

1. Crazy Love (Belgium 1987) 5/10
2. De zaak Alzheimer (Belgium 2003) 5/10
3. Abel (Netherlands 1986) 7/10
4. De stilte rond Christine M. (Netherlands 1982) 7/10
5. Soldaat van Oranje (Netherlands 1977) 7/10
6. Toto le héros (Belgium 1991) 6/10

7. Urs al-jalil (Belgium 1987) 6/10
8. N: The Madness of Reason (Belgium 2014) 6/10
9. De Patrick (Belgium 2019) 6/10

Arkantos · #65

8. The Notherners (1992, Alex van Warmerdam), Netherlands

Benelux

Belgium
1. Je tu il elle (1974, Chantal Akerman)
2. La promesse (1996, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne)

Netherlands
1. The Vanishing (1988, George Sluizer)
2. Flesh+Blood (1985, Paul Verhoeven)
3. Soldier of Orange (1977, Paul Verhoeven)
4. Turkish Delight (1973, Paul Verhoeven)
5. Black Book (2006, Paul Verhoeven)
6. The Notherners (1992, Alex van Warmerdam)

Tngy · #66

13. Gewoon Vrienden (2018) 6.0 Netherlands
14. 22 Mei (2010) 3.5 Belgium
15. Jongens (2014) 6.0 Netherlands
16. In Limbo (2018) 6.0 Netherlands
17. Simon (2004) 7.0 Netherlands

Spoiler

1. Knor (2022) 8.0 Netherlands
2. Turks Fruit (1973) 7.0 Netherlands
3. Girl (2018) 6.5 Belgium
4. Zusje (1995) 8.0 Netherlands
5. Alles is Liefde (2007) 4.0 Netherlands
6. Het Zakmes (1991) 6.0 Netherlands
7. De Libi (2019) 7.0 Netherlands
8. New Kids Turbo (2010) 5.0 Netherlands
9. New Kids Nitro (2011) 4.0 Netherlands
10. Sneekweek (2016) 4.5 Netherlands
11. Les Lèvres Rouges (1971) 6.0 Belgium
12. Dealer (2021) 8.0 Belgium

AB537 · #67

2. Rosetta (Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne, 1999) 6.5/10 ... Belgium

DudeLanez · #68

6. The Northerners (1992, Alex van Warmerdam) 5,5/10 - Netherlands
7.a Philips-Radio (1931, Joris Ivens, 36‘) 6/10 - Netherlands
7.b New Earth (1933, Joris Ivens, 36‘) 6/10 - Netherlands
7.c Easter Eggs (2021, Nicolas Keppens, 14‘) 4/10 - Netherlands

Spoiler

1. Medea (1982, Frans Zwartjes) 5,5/10 - Netherlands
2. The Lift (1983, Dick Maas) 4/10 - Netherlands
3. The Ardennes (2015, Robin Pront) 5/10 - Belgium
4. Ciske the Rat (1955, Wolfgang Staudte) 6/10 - Netherlands
5. Malpertuis (1971, Harry Kümel) 6/10 - Belgium
6. The Northerners (1992, Alex van Warmerdam) 5,5/10 - Netherlands
7.a Philips-Radio (1931, Joris Ivens, 36‘) 6/10 - Netherlands
7.b New Earth (1933, Joris Ivens, 36‘) 6/10 - Netherlands
7.c Easter Eggs (2021, Nicolas Keppens, 14‘) 4/10 - Netherlands

magnusbernhardsen · #69

3. Turks Fruit (Verhoeven, 1973) #Netherlands
4. Wat zien ik (Verhoeven, 1971) #Netherlands
5. Antonia (Gorris, 1995) #Netherlands

jdidaco · #70

17. La chambre rouge (The Red Room, Jean-Pierre Berckmans, 1972) 7.5/10 (Belgium)
18. Hors les murs (Beyond the Walls, David Lambert, 2012) 7/10 (Belgium)

Spoiler

1. Aline (François Weyergans, 1967) 8/10 (Belgium)
2. João en het mes/A Faca E o Rio (João and the Knife, George Sluizer, 1972) 8/10 (Netherlands)
3. Miss O'Gynie et les hommes fleurs (Miss O'Gynie and the Flower Men, Samy Pavel, 1974) 7.5/10 (Belgium)
4. Casta Diva (Eric De Kuyper, 1982) 10/10

(Belgium)
5. It's Me (Frans Zwartjes, 1976) 9/10 (Netherlands)
6. Une page d'amour (One Page of Love, Maurice Rabinowicz, 1978) 8/10 (Belgium)
7. Een vrouw als Eva (A Woman Like Eve, Nouchka van Brakel, 1979) 7.5/10 (Netherlands)
8. Kyodai Makes the Big Time (Aryan Kaganof, 1992) 8.5/10 (Netherlands)
9. L'homme de Mykonos (The Man from Mykonos, René Gainville, 1966) 7/10 (Belgium)
10. Home Sweet Home/La fête à Jules (Benoît Lamy, 1973) 7.5/10 (Belgium)
11. Le 15/8 (Chantal Akerman & Samy Szlingerbaum, 1975) 8/10 (Belgium)
12. Cha-Cha (Herbert Curiel, 1979) 7.5/10 (Netherlands)
13. Trompe l'oeil (‎The Broken Mirror, Claude d'Anna, 1975) 9/10 (Belgium)
14. Vivement ce soir (A Good Day's Work, Patrick Van Antwerpen, 1985) 8/10 (Belgium)
15. Trilogie de nos vies défaites (Trilogy of Our Lives Undone, Vincent Dieutre, 2016) 9/10 (Belgium/Netherlands)
16. Splendid Isolation (Urszula Antoniak, 2022) 6.5/10 (Netherlands)

AB537 · #71

3. Pastorale 1943 (Wim Verstappen, 1978) 7/10 ... Netherlands

gunnar · #72

18 - Crazy Love (1987) - 7/10 - #Belgium - The film follows one character during three parts of his love as he searches for love - as a boy learning what love is, as a teen whose severe acne repulses others, and as an alcoholic adult.

19 - Duelles (2018) - 7/10 - #Belgium - Two young boys are very good friends. Their families live next door to each other and are close as well. When one of the boys dies in an accident, the mother of the other boy starts to think that the mother whose son died is out to even the score. But is it paranoia or if it really happening? I don't think they quite pulled it off, but it is a decent film.

20 - Mr. Nobody (2009) - 8/10 - #Belgium - In the year 2092, humanity has achieved a sort of immortality, except for one unknown old man who is about to turn 118 years old. He is interviewed and reflects back on his life at ages 9, 15, and 34. However, his memories are contradictory and show the effects of different choices that he made or could have made. It's an interesting film with nice acting and special effects.

Spoiler

1 - Fanfare (1958) - 8/10 - Netherlands
2 - Little Sister / Zusje (1995) - 5.5/10 - Netherlands
3 - Hotel Monterey (1973) - 3/10 - #Belgium
4 - Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) - 6/10 - #Belgium
5 - Black Butterflies (2011) - 6/10 - Netherlands
6 - Felice… Felice… (1998) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
7 - Secret Wedding (1989) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
8 - Pauline & Paulette (2001) - 7/10 - #Belgium
9 - Rosie (1998) - 7.5/10 - #Belgium
10 - The Giants (2011) - 6/10 - #Belgium
11 - The Resistance Banker (2018) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
12 - Abel (1986) - 4/10 - Netherlands
13 - Black Book (2006) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
14 - Love is All (2007) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
15 - Simon (2004) - 7/10 - Netherlands
16 - The Little Blonde Dead (1993) - 4.5/10 - Netherlands
17 - The Moving True Story of a Woman Ahead of Her Time (2001) - 6/10 - Netherlands

PopperTheKungFu-Dragon · #73

3. Paix sur les champs / Peace Over the Fields (1970, Jacques Boigelot) FTV #Belgium

Mildly interesting drama about a supposedly true story that happened in France in the 1920s.

Lammetje · #74

4. De stilte rond Christine M. (1982): 8/10 Netherlands

What an intriguing movie! Marleen Gorris delivers a clear feminist message throughout the film - sometimes in a subtle way, sometimes not. Overall, I didn't find the plot to be very realistic, but I'm sure it wasn't meant to be. The ending was very powerful, and I loved the 80s synth music as well.

Seen

1a. Greifensee (2013) Netherlands
1b. Gratis (2016) Netherlands
1c. Father and Daughter (2000) Netherlands
1d. Glas (1958) Netherlands
1e. Eén hagedis teveel (1960) Netherlands
1f. De wigwam (1911) Netherlands
1g. A Single Life (2014) Netherlands
2. Gutland (2017) Luxembourg
3. Petit samedi (2020) Belgium
4. De stilte rond Christine M. (1982) Netherlands

sol · #75

Spoiler

1. Bullhead (2011) Belgium
2. Boys (2014) Netherlands
3. Close (2022) Belgium
4. Nude Area (2014) Netherlands
5. Playground (2021) Belgium
6. Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) Belgium

7. Twice a Woman (1979) Netherlands

Unhappily married for years, a divorcee begins a relationship with woman young enough to be her daughter, a fact they try to hide from their friends and family in this curious Dutch drama. The romantic connection between the pair is strong and warm throughout as they find common ground with the disillusionment that they have each had in heterosexual relationships. Both Bibi Andersson and Sandra Dumas do well in the roles too. Curious as this set-up is, the film soon becomes meandering, especially as the relationship between the lesbian lovers fractures in the movie's second half. Cool ending though.

sol · #76

Spoiler

1. Bullhead (2011) Belgium
2. Boys (2014) Netherlands
3. Close (2022) Belgium
4. Nude Area (2014) Netherlands
5. Playground (2021) Belgium
6. Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) Belgium
7. Twice a Woman (1979) Netherlands

8. Cold Sweat (1970) Belgium

Along similar lines to A History of Violence, this crime drama involves a former getaway driver whose past comes backs to haunt him as the associates who he once betrayed track him down with revenge and blackmail in mind. There are some very suspenseful moments - most notably his neighbours inviting themselves over while his wife tries to hide a fresh corpse in their kitchen. There is also a great chase scene over rugged mountains on foot. And then there is an imported James Mason who steals his every scene as the protagonist's old boss, remarkably convincing as his health gradually declines throughout.

9. Calvaire (2004) Belgium

Led to a nearby inn when his van breaks down in the middle of nowhere late at night, a cabaret singer becomes unsettled by the place's overly friendly innkeeper in this slow-burn horror movie. Things definitely go quite haywire during the second half with eerie neon red overhead shots and accentuated pig squeal sounds, and Jackie Berroyer is excellent as the erratic innkeeper. Where the film ends up heading though is actually unsurprising with several hints dropped along the way; the extremes also seem fairly mild, but the whole thing is still fairly interesting with the aforementioned technical wizardry.

pitchorneirda · #77

Spoiler

1. Rembrandt fecit 1669 (1977, Jos Stelling) - 8/10 Netherlands
2. De wisselwachter (1986, Jos Stelling) - 5/10 Netherlands
3. Casta Diva (1982, Eric de Kuyper) - 7/10 Belgium
4. Hôtel Monterey (1973, Chantal Akerman) - 4/10 Belgium
5. Rooksporen (1992, Frans van de Staak) - 5.5/10 Netherlands
6. Le fils (2022, Dardenne brothers) - 6/10 Belgium

7. Guernsey (2005, Nanouk Leopold) - 5/10 Netherlands

PopperTheKungFu-Dragon · #78

4. Gutland (2017, Govinda Van Maele) FTV #Luxembourg

A surreal Lynchian type movie that has potential, but doesn't quite live up to it. Like Lynch's movies, I didn't understand the ending, but I quite liked the journey.

gunnar · #79

21 - In Syria / insyriated (2017) - 7.5/10 - #Belgium - A woman tries to keep her family and guests safe while barricaded in her large apartment with a war raging nearby and a sniper operating in the vicinity. it's a fairly confined space and there is tension throughout.

22 - The First, the Last / Les premiers les derniers (2016) - 6.5/10 - #Belgium - Two men are searching the countryside for a missing cellphone. They encounter a group of thugs, a couple with some intellectual disabilities trying to find their daughter, and others including, possibly, Jesus. The film definitely has its quirks and I wasn't enjoying it all that much until things picked up in the last half hour or so.

23 - Our Struggles / Nos batailles (2018) - 7.5/10 - #Belgium - Olivier is a hard working foreman at an Amazon type warehouse. His world is severely affected when his wife suddenly leaves without telling anyone, leaving him alone to take care of his two young children while also managing a difficult situation at work. He gets support from his sister and mother and tries to track down his wife. The kids are also affected by all the turmoil in their lives.

24 - Steve + Sky (2004) - 5/10 - #Belgium - Steve is a small time crook who spent some time in prison. After he gets out, he starts a relationship with Sky, a drifter who has had a number of jobs, including as a prostitute. The actors weren' bad, but the story didn't do much for me.

Spoiler

1 - Fanfare (1958) - 8/10 - Netherlands
2 - Little Sister / Zusje (1995) - 5.5/10 - Netherlands
3 - Hotel Monterey (1973) - 3/10 - #Belgium
4 - Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) - 6/10 - #Belgium
5 - Black Butterflies (2011) - 6/10 - Netherlands
6 - Felice… Felice… (1998) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
7 - Secret Wedding (1989) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
8 - Pauline & Paulette (2001) - 7/10 - #Belgium
9 - Rosie (1998) - 7.5/10 - #Belgium
10 - The Giants (2011) - 6/10 - #Belgium
11 - The Resistance Banker (2018) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
12 - Abel (1986) - 4/10 - Netherlands
13 - Black Book (2006) - 7.5/10 - Netherlands
14 - Love is All (2007) - 6.5/10 - Netherlands
15 - Simon (2004) - 7/10 - Netherlands
16 - The Little Blonde Dead (1993) - 4.5/10 - Netherlands
17 - The Moving True Story of a Woman Ahead of Her Time (2001) - 6/10 - Netherlands
18 - Crazy Love (1987) - 7/10 - #Belgium
19 - Duelles (2018) - 7/10 - #Belgium
20 - Mr. Nobody (2009) - 8/10 - #Belgium

sol · #80

Spoiler

1. Bullhead (2011) Belgium
2. Boys (2014) Netherlands
3. Close (2022) Belgium
4. Nude Area (2014) Netherlands
5. Playground (2021) Belgium
6. Je, Tu, Il, Elle (1974) Belgium
7. Twice a Woman (1979) Netherlands
8. Cold Sweat (1970) Belgium
9. Calvaire (2004) Belgium

10. Inexorable (2021) Belgium

This is incredibly good-looking with lots of intense and vibrant colours and neon reds favoured throughout (see above). There is also a neat vertigo shot, while the mansion feels pitch perfect with all of its dimly lit corridors. As a narrative, the movie never quite clicked for me though. It is always obvious that something is up with the female protagonist, so I spent the majority of the movie waiting on the family to finally cotton on. I predicted her reasons for targeting the guy too. The film nicely hones in on the ease of gaining someone's trust though, c.f. the bond that she quickly establishes with the daughter.