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FESTIVALS Belgium

Paris Cinéma Made in Belgium

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- The Belgian focus of Paris Cinéma is expected to be particularly rich and varied, sweeping through cinematographies from the north and south of the country over several decades and in over 100 films

The Paris Cinéma festival (read the article) will begin today in the French capital and run until July 9th. Its very rich programme includes a section entirely dedicated to Belgian cinema in all its diversity. And diversity is indeed present, since the programme intends to show films from Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. More than just a simple retrospective, the programmers have chosen several significant approaches, emphasizing the various reliefs of the cinematographic production in this flat country.

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As Belgian cinema is first and foremost centered around author cinema, Paris Cinéma has chosen to shed light on two of its most talented representatives, not shying away from talking about Francophone and Flemish New Waves. From northern Belgium, the festival will propose Felix Van Groeningen’s entire work, with his last two successes which were presented in Cannes (The Misfortunates [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Felix van Groeningen
film profile
]
) and Berlin (The Broken Circle Breakdown [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Felix van Groeningen
interview: Felix Van Groeningen
interview: Felix Van Groeningen
film profile
]
, in French), his two previous movies, as well as a selection of his short films. As for the Francophone side, Joachim Lafosse will be honoured by a retrospective with, once again, a showcase of his entire production. The festival will also highlight the rich and singular career of discrete actress Natacha Régnier (photo), whom has appeared in no less than 30 films such as 38 Witnesses [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Lucas Belvaux. The festival will screen 21 of her films.

The festival also wanted to approach Belgian cinema from the specific angle of comedy. As the country of Surrealism, Belgium regularly stands out with a sometimes black humour, at other times, goofy or poetic. While we consider that C’est arrivé près de chez vous, a little bombshell of caustic humour, enabled Belgium to make a sensational debut on the scene of vitriolic comedy, Paris Cinéma goes back to its roots with Henri Storck and Patrick Van Antwerpen, and invites worthy heirs such as Bouli Lanners (Eldorado [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
), Abel & Gordon (L’Iceberg [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
) and Vincent Lannoo (Strass).

Finally, the festival also offers particularly rich shorts and long panoramas, sweeping through the decades, as well as an essential Jean-Claude Van Damme evening and a surprising night of “Belgianness”.

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