Stars: Kevin Janssens, Jeroen Perceval, Veerle Baetens
Storyline
A brutal home-jacking goes hopelessly wrong. Dave, one of the two robbers, manages to run off, leaving his brother Kenneth behind. Four years later, Kenneth is released from prison and much has changed. Dave has his life back on track and is trying to help Kenneth however possible, but is witnessing how the highly strung Kenneth tries to win back his ex-girlfriend Sylvie.
Writers: Jeroen Perceval, Robin Pront, Kevin Janssens, Jeroen Perceval, Veerle Baetens, Kevin Janssens, Jeroen Perceval, Veerle Baetens, Jan Bijvoet, Viviane de Muynck, Sam Louwyck, Peter Van den Begin, Eric Godon, Rachid El Ghazaoui, Nico Sturm, Luc Nuyens, Brit Van Hoof, Uwamungu Cornelis, Caroline Stas, Jacqueline Pluche, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Cast: Kevin Janssens -
Kenneth
Jeroen Perceval -
Dave
Veerle Baetens -
Sylvie
Jan Bijvoet -
Stef
Viviane de Muynck -
Mariette
Sam Louwyck -
Joyce
Peter Van den Begin -
Robert
Eric Godon -
Gérard
Rachid El Ghazaoui -
Chalid
(as Rachid 'Appa' El Ghazaoui)
Nico Sturm -
Danny
Luc Nuyens -
Moderator hulpgroep
Brit Van Hoof -
Cindy
Uwamungu Cornelis -
Chris
(as Cornelis Mungu)
Caroline Stas -
Politieagenten
Jacqueline Pluche -
Politieagenten
Trivia:
The electronic dance song "Rigor Mortis" by Flesh and Bones was previously featured on the soundtrack of another Belgian movie, Steve+Sky. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 8/10
'D'Ardennen' is Robin Pront's first feature film, but I'd have sworn it
was made by a very experienced film maker. This is a well-made,
exciting, and ambitious movie - a successful accomplishment in every
respect.
Pront hasn't made it easy for himself. To mention just one thing: the
film is spoken entirely in the dialect of the Flemish city Antwerp.
That means that even here in Flanders, it is shown with subtitles.
Commercially, that's a drawback, but it makes the movie much more
authentic.
The film is built on a very strong screenplay. Two brothers commit a
holdup, but only one of them manages to escape. The other one is caught
and convicted, and is released from jail four years later. After the
reunion, he slowly pulls his brother down in a spiral of violence and
crime. His former girlfriend plays a crucial part in his
self-destructive behaviour. The tense relationship between the two
brothers is characterized by unspoken reproaches on the one hand and
strong family ties on the other. The girl is the reason for the
dramatic developments that lead to a bloody climax.
Not only is this a very intelligent thriller, it is also a great movie
from a cinematographic point of view. Pront and his cinematographer are
very good in filming scenes through mirrors or windows, creating
surprising and original effects. The crucial reunion between the two
brothers is filmed in the rear view mirror of a car, accentuating the
emotional distance that has grown between them. When they are having a
meal in a restaurant, they are filmed form both sides of the window
pane, with raindrops creating a nice visual effect. The locations are
very well chosen: Antwerp is shown as an industrial wasteland, and the
snowy hills of the Ardennes are filmed as a creepy place with weird
inhabitants.
The film slowly works its way towards a bloody apotheosis, which was a
bit overdone to my taste. The story didn't really need the considerable
body count, above all because at the end there is a surprising twist
with much dramatic effect. But this is a minor flaw in an otherwise
outstanding film.
Just like Oscar-nominated Bullhead a few years ago, this is a Flemish
film with international appeal. Too bad Belgium has already selected
Jaco Van Dormael's last film for the Academy Awards.
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