Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
THE MISFORTUNATES by Felix van Groeningen, Belgium, 2010, Dramatic Comedy, 108 minutes
Gunther Strobbe is a 13 years old boy who lives in his grandmother's house in a small Belgian town with his alcoholic father and three uncles. Life in the household is clearly dysfunctional, yet it's hard to condemn the Strobbes. Their hearts are in the right place - it's just that they can't seem to help turning everything around them into an unmitigated disaster. The Strobbes enter drinking contests, ride bicycles naked, teach vulgar songs to little girls and end up in hospital, then head right back to the bar the next day. Gunther is an observer in this broken home that reeks of cigarette smoke, spilled beer and sweat-stained clothes. He participates in his drunken uncles' shenanigans only to fit in, hiding his true passion for writing. The Strobbes will make you laugh your eyes out and cry out loud. Based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Belgian writer Dimitri Verhulst.
Stars Kenneth Vanbaeden, Valentijn Dhaenens, Koen De Graeve, Wouter Hendrickx, Johan Heldenbergh, Bert Haelvoet, and Gilda De Bal
Festivals: Director's Fortnight (Cannes Film Festival), Toronto International Film Festival, Hamptons Film Festival, Festival du Nouveau Cinema in Montréal
Awards: Special mention, Art Cinema Jury, Director’s Fortnight (Cannes Film Festival) / Best Film, Best Script and Best Cinematography, Hamptons Film Festival / Film representing Belgium for the Foreign Language Film Oscar
The DVD is Region 1, includes English and French subtitles, as well as special features. Recycled cardboard and plastic digipack with booklet, in compostable plastic wrapping.
THE MISFORTUNATES by Felix van Groeningen, Belgium, 2010, Dramatic Comedy, 108 minutes
Gunther Strobbe is a 13 years old boy who lives in his grandmother's house in a small Belgian town with his alcoholic father and three uncles. Life in the household is clearly dysfunctional, yet it's hard to condemn the Strobbes. Their hearts are in the right place - it's just that they can't seem to help turning everything around them into an unmitigated disaster. The Strobbes enter drinking contests, ride bicycles naked, teach vulgar songs to little girls and end up in hospital, then head right back to the bar the next day. Gunther is an observer in this broken home that reeks of cigarette smoke, spilled beer and sweat-stained clothes. He participates in his drunken uncles' shenanigans only to fit in, hiding his true passion for writing. The Strobbes will make you laugh your eyes out and cry out loud. Based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Belgian writer Dimitri Verhulst.
Stars Kenneth Vanbaeden, Valentijn Dhaenens, Koen De Graeve, Wouter Hendrickx, Johan Heldenbergh, Bert Haelvoet, and Gilda De Bal
Festivals: Director's Fortnight (Cannes Film Festival), Toronto International Film Festival, Hamptons Film Festival, Festival du Nouveau Cinema in Montréal
Awards: Special mention, Art Cinema Jury, Director’s Fortnight (Cannes Film Festival) / Best Film, Best Script and Best Cinematography, Hamptons Film Festival / Film representing Belgium for the Foreign Language Film Oscar
The DVD is Region 1, includes English and French subtitles, as well as special features. Recycled cardboard and plastic digipack with booklet, in compostable plastic wrapping.