A Roma single mum hopes an internet love match will hold the key to a better life.
(Country: Belgium; Year: 2018; Director: Marta Bergman; Writer: Marta Bergman, Laurent Brandenbourger, Boris Lojkine, Katell Quillévéré; Stars: Alina Serban, Tom Vermeir, Jonas Bloquet, Mitika Samu, Marie Denarnaud, Johan Leysen, Karin Tanghe, Christophe Hermans, Achille Ridolfi, Lara Persain, Viorica Tudor, Alina Ioana Serban, Tom Vermeir, Jonas Bloquet, Mitika Samu)
Doillon is wonderfully adept and natural, and it's really her performance that makes the film compelling.
When her babysitter doesn’t show, a single mother is forced to leave her precocious five-year-old daughter with the girl’s estranged father for a long weekend.
(Year: 2017; Director: Amélie van Elmbt; Writer: Amélie van Elmbt, Matthieu de Braconier; Stars: Isabelle Barth, Thomas Blanchard, Judith Chemla, Kristof Coenen, Alice de Lencquesaing, Lina Doillon, Isabelle Barth, Thomas Blanchard, Judith Chemla, Kristof Coenen, Alice de Lencquesaing, Lina Doillon)
In Brussels, Mashir has fallen in love with Amel, a teenager of Algerian origin. Fearing disapproval, they keep the relationship secret from their families. Future plans are put in jeopardy when Mashir’s traditional Pakistani father decides to arrange his marriage to a cousin who now lives nearby. Defying his father’s authority has unexpected consequences for everyone.
Review preview for Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels
The viewer has to be keyed into Akerman's cinematic language, how she portrays boredom, claustrophobia, isolation.
A widow for six years, Jeanne maintains a strict household routine. She cooks, cleans, shops and entertains a gentleman caller each afternoon to support herself and her teenage son.
(Country: Belgium, France; Year: 1975; Director: Chantal Akerman; Stars: Delphine Seyrig, Jan Decorte, Henri Storck)
A mother and son take a horseback journey in Kyrgyzstan in a bid to improve their relationship.
(Country: Belgium, France; Year: 2018; Director: Joachim Lafosse; Writer: Joachim Lafosse, Laurent Mauvignier; Stars: Virginie Efira, Kacey Mottet Klein, Diego Martín, Virginie Efira, Kacey Mottet Klein, Diego Martín)
Mothers' Instinct
(Duelles)
Suburban neighbours Alice and Celine are the very best of friends. Their inseparable sons are more like brothers than pals. When tragedy strikes, they both struggle to accept the consequences.
(Country: Belgium, France; Year: 2018; Director: Olivier Masset-Depasse; Stars: Veerle Baetens, Anne Coesens, Mehdi Nebbou)
The Third Marriage
(Troisièmes Noces)
Martin is left bereft and bankrupt by the death of his husband. A friend begs him to solve a tricky situation by entering into a marriage of convenience with 20-year-old Congolese immigrant Tamara. When the authorities smell a rat, they are forced to play lovebirds.
Offering the comfort and reassurance of a Seventies children's TV programme, it takes us into the heat of darkness in a bumbling, offbeat way.
A five-part anthology featuring a troubled king, a failed businessman and an army deserter in stories that reflect the cruelty of 19th Century colonialism, told using stop-motion puppets.
(Country: Belgium, France, Netherlands; Year: 2018; Director: Marc James Roels, Emma De Swaef; Writer: Marc James Roels, Emma De Swaef; Stars: Gaston Motambo, Wim Willaert, Goua Grovogui)
