04/10/2007

What if happiness were simply a pair of socks that we put on when we jump out of bed in the morning? A light social comedy, rather unevenly paced but humorous, is how Belgian director Dominique Standaert’s second feature by Formidable could be summed up. The title received an out-of-competition preview screening yesterday at the 22nd Namur International Francophone Film Festival.

Featuring Serge Larivière and Stéphane De Groodt, Formidable centres on two characters who are tender and slightly pathetic, qualities that come to light when they meet (see news). While one lapses into an imaginary world to escape daily routine, the other is confronted with the crisis of his life when his wife leaves him, his bank drops him and his daughter becomes distant.

Whereas Standaert’s debut film Hop was a slightly delirious social fable, this is undoubtedly what is lacking in his second film – the energy and joys of a fairy tale, which are toned down here. Not always successful, at times lacking in rhythm and in parts very awkward, Formidable is, at best, a warm and humorous film that in unexpected ways recounts a humble and gentle story of men and friendship.

Formidable is produced by Patrick Quinet for Artémis Productions, with A Private View, in co-production with RTBF (Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française) and supported by the Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel de la Communauté française de Belgique, Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (VAF), the MEDIA Programme and tax shelter funding from the Belgian federal government.

(Translated from French)