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Moscow, Belgium. Wij trots, zeg.

vrijdag 9 januari 2009 6u59 | ilse | 10 reacties
Trefwoorden: Aanrijding in Moscou.

Het is ondertussen bijna een jaar geleden dat wij uitzinnig enthousiast terugkwamen van de premiere van Aanrijding in Moscou en schreven: “Als u Johan Heldenberg door Hugh Grant zou vervangen, Johnny door Ewan Mc Greggor en het geheel in een kleine Britse stad liet spelen, werd deze film een wereldhit.”
Wat blijkt, een jaar later? Wij hebben Hugh Grant en Ewan McGreggor niet nodig. Moscow, Belgium, zoals de titel tegenwoordig luidt, heeft niet alleen al een lange zegetocht langs de internationale festivals achter de rug, sinds 19 december is de prent zowaar in New York te zien. En we weten allemaal: if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Het is dan ook niet zonder gepaste, chauvenistische Gentse trots dat wij u laten meelezen in de recensies.

De recensie van Roger Ebert in de Chicago Sun Times.

The performances make these characters work. Barbara Sarafian, first seen in a long shot as she looks painfully hostile and withdrawn, is weather-beaten but attractive. Johnny must be the despair of his mother: an unkempt charmer who looks like trouble. Werner is a creep. The only grownup is Vera. She puts her mother to an unexpected test, and Matty, after a double take, shows she has instinctive love for her daughter.

I will not be revealing a thing if I say we’re not too sure that Matty has made the right choice at the end. That’s because neither choice would be the right choice. But notice how deeply the director, Christophe van Rompaey, has drawn us into these lives, how much we finally care, and with what sympathy all the actors enter into the enterprise.

Rotten Tomatoes.

My pick for best romantic comedy of the year–from any country.

Film Journal International

The joys in Moscow, Belgium are many: Sarafian gives an Oscar-caliber performance as the besieged Matty, and the fine supporting cast, especially Delnaet and Valcke, honor that standard. The film’s love triangle is deceptively simple, but screenwriters Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem and Pat Van Beirs enliven it with plenty of twists and complications. Tuur Florizoone’s subtle music strikes the right notes, assuring the right moods.

The working-class Ghent suburbs and locations of Moscow and Ledeberg add authenticity. But, most importantly, newbie director Christophe Van Rompaey injects his work with heart and intelligence so that every frame rings true.

Box Office

A traditional romantic comedy in most respects, the low-budget Moscow, Belgium reflects the reality of life in contemporary Europe. The lead actors and many of those behind the camera have roots in Ghent and director Christophe van Rompaey, making an impressive feature debut, does a fine job harnessing their energy and that of the town. Not everything works, but the essential parts do.

De film draait nog steeds in Duitsland, Frankrijk en Nederland. Op 23 februari komt de film ook uit in Groot-Brittannië.

© 2009 GENTBLOGT VZW