Felix van Groeningen’s fourth feature film, The Broken Circle Breakdown, will open the 39th Flanders International Film Festival in Ghent on 9 October. The Misfortunates, van Groeningen’s previous film which premiered at Cannes 2009 and was awarded the Prix Art et Essai, also opened the Flanders fest in 2009. According to artistic director Patrick Duynslaegher, Ghent will be the starting point of a brilliant international career for the film.
Duynslaegher lauded director van Groeningen as ‘one of the greatest talents in European cinema. With each new film, he seems to reinvent himself as a filmmaker while at the same time maintaining his unique tone and style.’ The film is based on the play of the same name by Johan Heldenbergh. Van Groeningen’s star status was recently confirmed when his new film was picked up by sales agent The Match Factory.
According to van Groeningen in Flemish newspaper De Standaard, The Broken Circle Breakdown is his best film yet. The film, starring acclaimed Belgium actress Veerie Baetens (Code 37) and Johan Heldenbergh (The Misfortunates), is an intense melodrama, a love story full of passion and music about how love can conquer fate – and sometimes not.
For The Broken Circle Breakdown, van Groeningen once again teamed up with producer Dirk Impens of Menuet as he has for each of his previous features (Steve + Sky, With Friends Like These, The Misfortunates). The film is set for theatrical release in Flanders on Wednesday 10 October via distributor KFD.