The Fairy and Quixote’s Island hit screens

by Aurore Engelen

28/09/2011 - This Wednesday, September 28 is looking particularly busy in Belgian theatres. No fewer than 11 films are hitting theatres, including three Belgian productions.

Cinéart is releasing a 10-print run of poetic-burlesque trio Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel and Bruno Romy’s eagerly-awaited The Fairy. Starring Gordon and Abel in a zany and tender world, The Fairy [trailer, film focus] opened the Directors’ Fortnight with a sparkle. The team has been out meeting Belgian audiences over the past few days, in particular as part of the promotional campaign led by BNP Fortis last week, which offered tickets at €4. We can be sure that these special meetings will help fuel positive word of mouth for the film.

Cinéart is certainly busy this week, for the company is also releasing Rémi Bezançon’s much-promoted second film, A Happy Event [trailer], starring two currently sought-after actors who have been seen in many films (Louise Bourgoin and Pio Marmaï). Its print-run is equal to Christophe Barratier’s middle-weight film War of the Buttons [trailer], released by Belga Films in 20 theatres.

On the Flemish side, Kinepolis is releasing in 13 theatres Didier Volckaert’s debut feature, Quixote’s Island, a coming-of-age film about a confused teenager who feels disconnected from his father and dreams up a double imaginary world, donning the clothing of the man of La Mancha.

Quixote’s Island is produced by Vivi Film, which has hitherto made a name for itself in the animation sector, notably for its work on Belleville Rendez-vous [trailer] and The Secret of Kells [trailer, film focus]. This film marks Vivi Film’s first live-action feature. The company will soon move on to Ilse Somers’s debut feature, Weekend [trailer], produced as part of the third season of Faits Divers, the series backed by private TV network VTM.

Finally, the line-up of releases also includes Olivier Van Malderghem’s Rondo [trailer], starring Jean-Pierre Marielle and Aurore Clément, produced by Saga Film. Paradiso is launching the film on three screens in Brussels and Wallonia.

(Translated from French)