Belgica
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFelix Van Groeningen
Written by
  • Arne Sieren
  • Felix Van Groeningen
Produced byDirk Impens
Starring
  • Stef Aerts
  • Tom Vermeir
  • Hélène Devos
  • Charlotte Vandermeersch
CinematographyRuben Impens
Edited byNico Leunen
Music bySoulwax
Distributed by
  • Kinepolis Film Distribution
  • Pyramide Distribution
Release dates
  • 21 January 2016 (2016-01-21) (Sundance)
  • 2 March 2016 (2016-03-02) (Belgium & France)
Running time
127 minutes
Countries
  • Belgium
  • France
LanguagesDutch
French
Budget€3.6 million[1]

Belgica is a 2016 Belgian drama film directed by Felix Van Groeningen, written by Van Groeningen and Arne Sierens. It stars Stef Aerts, Tom Vermeir, Hélène Devos, and Charlotte Vandermeersch. The movie is based upon a true story and revolves around a group of friends trying to run a bar where rock bands come to play. Belgica has since then become a cult film.[2]

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2016.[3] It was released in Belgium and France on March 2, 2016, by Kinepolis Film Distribution and Pyramide Distribution.[4]

Plot

Jo runs “Belgica”, an artistic pub in Ghent where all kinds of people are welcome. His brother Frank is a shareholder in a second-handed car company.

The brothers are estranged due to their abusive, alcoholic father. One evening, Frank visits the pub of his brother. As he likes it he decides to come over more. When the adjacent warehouse is on sale, Frank convinces Jo to buy it, to convert it into a dance hall and to restyle “Belgica”. Frank and Jo decides to become partners with each 50% of the shares. To get the money, Frank sells the shares of his own company, but due to a cashflow issue his business partner can only pay a small part of it, but they have an oral agreement the remaining sum will follow in a few months.

The new dance room is inspected. The inspector gives a permission for a maximum total of 80 persons as there is only one legal emergency exit which ends up in a narrow alley. Frank bribes the inspector by giving him a huge amount of dark money.

The restyled "Belgica" is a success and many employees, mostly friends, are hired. One evening, a recurring riot starts a fight. He is overwhelmed by Frank and his "security staff" and locked into a room until the arrival of the police. The police tells them it is illegal to confine a person and has a proposal: if Jo and Frank do not charge the riot, the police will turn a blind eye about what's going on in "Belgica" referring to the black money, supposed drug use... It is a fact drugs are used, even by the owners and staff.

Some time later, the riot turns up again and Frank beats him up. Manu, who is responsible for security, does not approve Franks action, and resigns. Frank convinces Jo to hire a professional security team instead to rely on their friends. His ulterior motive is to deny access to riots, people from the lower class, ... resulting in the rejection of many regular customers.

The profits are lower than expected thus drinks become more expensive. Frank makes more and more one-sided decisions. He opens a VIP bar on the second floor as this will raise revenues but he neglects the additional costs.

As “Belgica” is not anymore what Jo wanted to reach, he decides to quit and wants to sell his shares to Frank based upon the value according to the bookkeeping system. Frank is frustrated as he invested much black money in the business which is now neglected. Anyway, Frank agrees and calls his former partner only to find out he absconded meaning Frank will never get the remaining money.

Ultimately, Frank quits. Jo continues with the pub with two investors. Frank and his wife build a house with the money they got by selling his shares. Jo returns to his pub but it has lost its name, glamour and customers.

Cast

  • Stef Aerts as Jo
  • Tom Vermeir as Frank
  • Héléne Devos as Marieke
  • Charlotte Vandermeersch as Isabelle
  • Boris Van Severen as Tim Coppens
  • Sara De Bosschere as Nikki
  • Dominique Van Malder as Manu Dewaey
  • Sam Louwyck as Rodrigo
  • Stefaan De Winter as Ferre
  • Silvanus Saow as Rudy Rasta

History

The movie is based upon true events. Jo Van Groeningen, the father of director Felix Van Groeningen, started a pub in Ghent in 1988 with the name "Charlatan". Many of the events in the film actually did happen: many of the employees were friends, the adjacent house was turned over in a dance room, professional security staff was hired (in this case with the intention to prohibit access to drug addicts),... . Although "Belgica" seems to be bankrupt at the end of the movie, pub "Charlatan" still exists.[5][6]

Production

The film was shot in Ghent between December 1, 2014 and January 10, 2015.[7] The soundtrack consists of 15 pieces of music by Soulwax, a band formed by the Dewaele brothers from Ghent, composed specifically for the movie.[8] Soulwax composed music of different styles for each of the sixteen fictional bands that performed at the club in the movie.[9]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2016,[3] where it opened the World Dramatic Competition.[8] Shortly after, Netflix acquired global distribution rights to the film, excluding select territories.[10] It was released in Belgium and France on March 2, 2016.[4] It was released on April 15, 2016, by Netflix.[11]

The soundtrack was released by PIAS Recordings on February 26, 2016.[12]

Reception

Van Groeningen won the Best Director prize in the World Cinema Dramatic section at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.[13] The film received a Magritte Award for Best Flemish Film at the 7th Magritte Awards.[14]

Many reviews of the film highlighted the film's soundtrack. Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Van Groeningen catches the ebb and flow of [the brothers' success] in a very fluid way, synching up dramatic and mood shifts with apt musical choices that make the film a sensual pleasure."[15] Lanre Bakare of The Guardian praised the film's accuracy in "replicating hedonism going off the rails" instead of being "a morality tale about excess and its certain fatal consequences", also mentioning the "great Soulwax soundtrack" in their four-star review of the film.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Belgica". JP's Box-Office.
  2. ↑ "CHARLOTTE ADIGERY + CAMERON VANDENBROUCKE | Festival van de Gelijkheid". Archived from the original on 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
  3. 1 2 Vlogaert, Hanne (22 January 2016). "Zo lovend is de Amerikaanse filmpers over 'Belgica'". De Morgen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 Jagernauth, Kevin (24 November 2015). "Watch: First Trailer For 'Belgica,' New Film From 'Broken Circle Breakdown' Director Felix van Groeningen". Indiewire.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Beernaert, Luc (25 February 2016). "Belgica komt tot leven in Charlatan" [Belgica comes alive in Charlatan] (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  6. ↑ Deweer, Lander (2 January 2016). "Legendarische Charlatan staat model voor film 'Belgica': Eén café met duizend verhalen" [Legend Charlatan role model for movie Belgica: a pub with thousand stories]. Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). De Morgen. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (19 January 2016). "Sundance directors: Felix van Groeningen, 'Belgica'". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  8. 1 2 Fuller, Graham (22 January 2016). "'Belgica': Review". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Lynskey, Dorian Why Soulwax are writing music for imaginary bands The Guardian. April 5, 2016
  10. ↑ Hopewell, John (17 February 2016). "Netflix Takes Sundance Director Winner 'Belgica' for Global (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  11. ↑ McHenry, Jackson (31 March 2016). "What's New on Netflix: April 2016". Vulture. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Middleton, Ryan (27 January 2016). "Soulwax Unveil 'Belgica' Movie Soundtrack Tracklist". MusicTimes.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "2016 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners" (PDF). Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 15, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Les Magritte du cinéma 2017: le palmarès". Cinevox (in French). February 4, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  15. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (January 21, 2016). "'Belgica': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  16. ↑ Bakare, Lanre (22 January 2016). "Belgica review: a realistic tale of hedonism gone wrong". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
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