13/04/2005

Brussels starts stirring when the time comes to select the films which will go to Cannes. Quite a few much awaited quality films are currently being post-produced and should all be ready in May.

Word of mouth favours the Dardenne brothers’ latest work, L’Enfant, starring Jérémie Rénier, where Olivier Gourmet also briefly appears. As usual, Luc et Jean-Pierre Dardennes stay quiet and aloof, giving only little information and hardly showing images. This does not prevent them from having good chances to have Enfant selected in competition and come back one more time to Cannes.

Two animation films could challenge big American cartoons : the sassy sequel of Snow White, Blanche Neige la suite, by Picha —where the beautiful bride is confronted with her prince’s affairs—, and L’iceberg by Abel and Gordon. Other Belgian (co)productions which are less likely to be included in the official selection, should nevertheless be sold on the Film Market : Bel horizon which is Ines Rabadan’s second feature film, Bunker Paradise, directorial debut of Stefan Liberski, Miss Montigny by Miel Van Hoogenbemt, starring Ariane Ascaride and Sophie Quinton, and two more second films, Vendredi ou un autre jour by Yvan le Moine, and Ordinary Men by Vincent Lannoo —whose first film, Strass, won the Jury’s Prize in Angers.

Two Belgian coproductions stand great chances in competition : Danis Tanovic’s second film, L’Enfer —coproduced by Cedomir Kolar for Asap Films (France) and Marion Hänsel for Man Film (Belgium)— and Battle of Heaven by Carlos Reyadas, of which the Belgian company Tarantula is the associate producer. The Mexican director’s first feature, Japón, was praised by the critics but only got a Special Distinction in the 2002 Caméra d’Or section. Will he do better this year ?

(Translated from French)