With the end of this year’s Berlinale in sight, Felix van Groeningen’s The Broken Circle Breakdown can look back on a successful venture with international sales interest skyrocketing. The film’s sales agent The Match Factory reports that 20 distribution deals have been closed so far, while further negotiations with larger territories are running smoothly. After the enthusiasm of the festival audience in Berlin, distributors worldwide have also warmed to The Broken Circle Breakdown.
In addition to its gripping narrative, the film’s mesmerising bluegrass soundtrack and van Groeningen’s unmistakable directorial signature, a lot of praise goes to the accomplishments of the film’s main actors, Veerle Baetens and Johan Heldenbergh, whose work was heartily endorsed by the Berlin festival attendees. And with just one Berlin screening left this afternoon, it's equally obvious that distributors worldwide have also warmed to the film.
After Germany, Austria and Switzerland, deals have been sealed with distributors in France, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Romania, Turkey, South Korea, Sweden and the Baltic States. The Match Factory is also actively negotiating with multiple distributors of larger territories; it is expected that final talks will be rounded off successfully in the near future. Furthermore, a high number of international film festivals already expressed their desire to include the feature in their upcoming programmes.
The Broken Circle Breakdown is an intense melodrama, full of passion and music, about how love can conquer fate, and sometimes not. The film was scripted by Felix van Groeningen and Carl Joos. Nico Leunen took on the role of editor, while Ruben Impens was responsible for the photography. Dirk Impens produced the film for production company Menuet (Turquaze, The Misfortunates). The Broken Circle Breakdown Band, led by Bjorn Eriksson, composed the musical score. Kinepolis Film Distribution signed for the domestic theatrical release of The Broken Circle Breakdown, which still screens at a number of venues. The film was made possible with the support of the VAF/Film Fund of Flemish Cultural Affairs Minister Joke Schauvliege.