Recent Belgian Cinéma

Belgian Film Series at the AERO

Presented by the Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles and the American Cinémathèque, GRIT AND WHIMSY VI: THE BEST OF RECENT BELGIAN CINEMA is a monthly film series at the AERO Theatre in Santa Monica (except otherwise noted).

Every screening is followed by Belgian beer reception.



WEDNESDAY, April 20, 2016 at 7:30pm

CAFÉ DERBY
Directed by Lenny Van Wesemael      

2015, 90 min

 

 

 

 

 

                 

When Pope John Paul II came to Belgium in 1985, it was a blessing for tens of thousands of believers – and a few entrepreneurs. Born salesman Georges (Wim Opbrouck) learns of the pontiff’s upcoming open-air mass and plans to make a fortune by setting up shop in the nearby Café Derby, but Georges’ wife and five kids have seen enough of his get-rich-quick schemes to know better.

WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 at 7:30pm

ALL CATS ARE GREY

TOUS LES CHATS SONT GRIS

Directed by Savina Dellicour

2014, 84 min

 

 

                

In director Savina Dellicour’s crowd-pleasing feature debut, 40-something Paul (Bouli Lanners) has a reputation as an armchair detective, so when 16-year-old Dorothy (Manon Capelle) wants to find her dad, she turns to him - without knowing that Paul is her biological father.

In French with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, February 17, 2016 at 7:30pm

PARADISE TRIPS
Directed by Raf Reyntjens                       

2015, 90 min

 

 

 

 

 

  

The title of writer-director Raf Reyntjens’ affecting new dramedy refers to the travel company run by bus driver Mario Dockers (Gene Bervoets). For many years, his bread-and-butter has been shuttling pensioners south for summer holidays, but on the eve of his own retirement, Mario is asked to drive a boisterous group of passengers to an electronic music festival in Croatia – a trip that could reunite him with his estranged son.

WEDNESDAY, January 20, 2016 at 7:30pm

MELODY

Directed by Bernard Bellefroid

2014, 90 min

 

 

                

Though hairdresser Melody (Lucie Debay) is living hand-to-mouth, she has always dreamed of opening her own salon. She may find the means to do that through Emily (Rachael Blake), a successful executive twenty years Melody’s senior who wants a child and is seeking a surrogate mother. But what begins as a simple business arrangement grows into something more in this thoughtful (and beautifully acted) drama about the meaning of family.


In French, English and Ukrainian with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, December 16 at 7:30pm

THE ARDENNES

D'ARDENNEN

Directed by Robin Pront

2015, 93 min                   

 

 

 

                

The botched robbery that kicks off director Robin Pront’s feature debut drives a wedge between two brothers: Kenny (Kevin Janssens), who is convicted for the crime, and Dave (Jeroen Perceval), who manages to escape. When Kenny is paroled after years in prison, he struggles to adjust to straight life – while Dave struggles to hide his relationship with Kenny’s former girlfriend (Veerle Baetens). The tension escalates steadily from this taut drama’s beginning to its head-turning climax in Belgium's Ardennes forest.

In Flemish and French with English subtitles.

MONDAY, November 16 at 7:30pm - Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood

THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT

LE TOUT NOUVEAU TESTAMENT

Directed by Jaco Van Dormael

2015, 113 min

 

  

                

According to director Jaco Van Dormael’s (MR. NOBODY, TOTO THE HERO) surreal satire, those hoping to find God should focus their search on an apartment building in Brussels, where the deity (Benoit Poelvoorde) spends his days making human life more difficult. His daughter (Pili Groyne) hopes to put a stop to this and sets off to recruit some new apostles (Catherine Deneuve among them). “A religiously incorrect but irresistibly funny work of the imagination.” - Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter.

In French with English subtitles. Followed by Q&A with Jaco Van Dormael and actress Pili Groyne.

WEDNESDAY, October 21 at 7:30pm

N: THE MADNESS OF REASON     

Directed by Peter Krüger 

2014, 102 min

In 1929, Raymond Borremans left Europe for Africa, spending a half-century there and trying to create the continent’s first encyclopedia, but only reaching the letter “N” before his death. This magical film blurs the line between fiction and documentary, using the eccentric Frenchman’s life – and afterlife - as a jumping-off point to examine the complex relationship between Western academic traditions, the mysteries of the African continent and the legacy of colonialism.

In French with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, September 16 at 7:30pm

TOKYO FIANCÉE

Directed by Stefan Liberski

2014, 100 min

 

 

 

                         

                

East meets West in this playful adaptation of Amélie Nothomb’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel. Though raised in Belgium, Amélie (Pauline Etienne) was born in Japan and longs to return there; a job as a French tutor is her ticket. Her student Rinri (Taichi Inoue) is also in his early 20s and is as smitten with France as Amélie is with Japan. The two grow closer - despite several comic misunderstandings.

In French and Japanese with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, August 19 at 7:30pm

SCOUTING FOR ZEBRAS     

LES RAYURES DU ZÈBRE

Directed by Benoît Mariage

2015, 80 min

 

 

                

José Stockman (Benoît Poelvoorde) is a Belgian soccer scout scouring the Ivory Coast for top players; he thinks he’s found one in Yaya Koné (Marc Zinga). But when the rookie’s tryout for the Zebras team doesn’t go smoothly, both men have to rethink their assumptions about the game. Collaborating for the third time with writer-director Mariage, Poelvoorde strikes just the right tone as the opportunistic but humane sports agent, producing laughs without obscuring the film’s deeper issues.

“A darkly comic post-colonial satire with real heart.” - Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter.

WEDNESDAY, July 15 at 7:30pm

GAME FACE
Directed by Michiel Thomas     

2015, 98 min

 

 

The confines of “the closet” can be even more restrictive in the locker room, but LGBTQ athletes are standing up to homophobia in increasing numbers. This award-winning documentary follows transgender mixed martial arts fighter Fallon Fox and gay college basketball player Terrence Clemens as they come out, surmounting numerous hurdles in both their personal lives and competitions. Former NBA star Jason Collins shines as a mentor for Terrence in this inspiring film.

Discussion after the film with director Michiel Thomas and basketball player Terrence Clemens.

WEDNESDAY, June 17 at 7:30pm

HALFWAY

HALFWEG

Directed by Geoffrey Enthoven

2014, 115 min

 

 

 

Embroiled in a nasty divorce, Stef (Koen De Graeve) needs a new place to live and manages to find a luxury house at a rock-bottom price. But when he moves in, Stef discovers the previous owner, Theo (Jurgen Delnaet), still in the living room and unwilling to vacate. An additional complication: Theo died two years earlier.

In Dutch with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, May 20 at 7:30pm

NEXT YEAR

L’ANNÉE PROCHAINE

Directed by Vania Leturcq

2015, 90 min

 

 

 

 

 

                 

Clotilde (Constance Rousseau) and Aude (Jenna Thiam) have been best friends for virtually all of their 18 years, having grown up together in a small village in the South of France. After their graduation, Clotilde decides to continue her studies in Paris; though Aude accompanies her, it may be the point where their paths finally diverge.

In French with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, April 15 at 7:30pm

PLAN BART

Directed by Roel Mondelaers

2014, 87 min

 

 

                

In her mid-30s, Sarah (Wine Dierickx) wants a baby but current boyfriend Alex (Wouter Hendrickx) doesn’t, so she turns to ex-boyfriend Bart (Jeroen Perceval). He needs money to attend the Air Guitar World Championship in Japan, and Sarah is willing to pay if he can get her pregnant, after which they'll never see each other again. But things don’t quite go according to plan in writer-director Mondelaers’ insightful romantic comedy.

In Dutch with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, March 18 at 7:30pm

NOT MY TYPE     

PAS SON GENRE

Directed by Lucas Belvaux                 

2014, 111 min

 

Philosophy professor Clement (Loïc Corbery) misses the Paris nightlife when he is transferred to Arras for a year … until he meets Jennifer (Émilie Dequenne). They soon fall in love, but with their different backgrounds - she’s a hairdresser who’d rather read the tabloids than Proust - can they make it last? This appealing romance will have you rooting for the couple thanks to charming performances from Corbery and Dequenne. AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE

In French with English subtitles.

WEDNESDAY, February 18 at 7:30pm

THE TREATMENT    

DE BEHANDELING

Directed by Hans Herbots

2014, 125 min

 

In this dark and intense adaptation of British author Mo Hayder’s bestseller, investigator Nick Cafmeyer (Geert Van Rampelberg) works to stop a pedophile he’s convinced was responsible for his brother’s disappearance many years earlier. Superbly crafted and packed with surprising twists, this is among the most disturbing thrillers since SEVEN.

In Dutch with English subtitles.








WEDNESDAY, January 21, 2015 at 7:30pm

THE TASTE OF BLUEBERRIES

LE GOÛT DES MYRTILLES

Directed by Thomas De Thier

2014, 90 min

 

 

In the second feature from writer-director Thomas De Thier (Feathers in My Head, Des plumes dans la tête), elderly couple Michel and Jeanne (Michel Piccoli and Natasha Parry) take to the road for their summer picnic, an annual ritual to remember their son Philippe, who died decades earlier. After arriving at the forest, they lose their car keys, and as the two wander through the woods they encounter a lifetime of memories, dreams and fears. A touching and poetic drama that mirrors the human experience with the wonders of nature.

In French with English subtitles.

Q&A with director Thomas de Thier and composer Patricia Hontoir



Please stay tuned as this page will be updated every month when more titles get announced.


AERO Theatre  

1328 Montana Avenue,
Santa Monica, CA 90403