EN - Bettina and Marcus, a passionate couple, live in a canteen in the middle of a vast field with endless lines of pylons. Marcus, trying to set up his own business, works as a foreman maintaining the power lines while Bettina, bored and longing for a better life, runs the canteen for the workmen. Their nine-year-old daughter Tessa roams the area, looking for bits and pieces to occupy her mind, skipping school whenever she can. When Marcus hires Hungarian engineer Szabolcs to become part of his company, their unconventional way of living takes a new turn. A tragic accident will shatter everyone’s pursuit of happiness.
NL - Bettina en Marcus vormen een passioneel koppel en leven in een kantine temidden een immense vlakte met eindeloze rijen pylonen. Marcus tracht er zijn eigen bedrijf in onderhoud aan hoogspanningslijnen op te starten. En Bettina, die droomt van een beter leven, runt de kantine voor de arbeiders. Hun negen jaar oude dochter, Tessa, die zoveel mogelijk uit school probeert weg te blijven, zwerft over de vlakte op zoek naar objecten en snuisterijen om zich mee bezig te houden. Wanneer Marcus de Hongaarse ingenieur Szabolcs aanwerft als partner voor zijn bedrijf, neemt het onconventionele leven van het koppel een nieuwe wending. Een tragisch ongeval haalt hun zoektocht naar geluk overhoop. Lost Persons Area is een verhaal over mensen verloren in de meanders van het leven.
FR - Bettina et Marcus, un couple passionnel, vivent dans une cantine au milieu d’un vaste champs avec des lignes de pylônes à perte de vue. Bettina est fatiguée et aspire à une vie meilleure. Elle fait tourner la cantine pour les travailleurs. Tessa, leur fille de neuf ans, parcourt le terrain industriel, à la recherche de quelque chose pour occuper son esprit, faisant l’école buissonnière à chaque fois qu’elle le peut. Lorsque Marcus embauche un ingénieur hongrois, Szablocs, pour faire partie de la société, leur style de vie peu conventionnel prend un nouveau tournant. Un accident tragique va cependant démolir la recherche du bonheur de chacun. Lost Persons Area est une histoire sur des personnes perdues dans les méandres de la vie.
Info
Title | Lost Persons Area |
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Original title | Lost Persons Area |
Original language | Dutch, English, Hungarian |
Status | Completed |
Production | Majority Flemish |
Category | Features |
Year | 2009 |
Credits
Cast | Zoltan Miklos Hajdu, Kimke Desart, Sam Louwyck, Lisbeth Gruwez |
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Photography | Nicolas Karakatsanis |
Editing | Frédéric Fichefet |
Music | Albert Markos |
Technical specs
Running time film | 110' |
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Release format | 35mm |
Aspect ratio | 1:2.35 (scope) |
Sound format | Dolby Digital |
Colour | Colour |
Partners
Supported by | Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), CCA, NFF, HFF, RFF, Eurimages ZDF/Arte, National Lottery, De Meeuw |
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Festivals
2010: International Film Festival Rotterdam (NLD) / 41st Hungarian Filmweek (HUN) / Cinequest Film Festival (USA) / Cape Winelands Film Festival (ZAF) / Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (CZE) / Morelia International Film Festival (MEX) / XVth Forum of European Cinema 'Cinergia' (POL)
Awards
2010: Winner Maverick Award Best First Feature (Cinequest Film Festival)
2009: SACD Award (Cannes International Film Festival ) / 2009: Reflet d'Or Best Film (Cinema Tout Ecran) / 2009: Officiële Nominatie Europese Lux Prijs (LUX Cinema Prize)
MoMA presents Caroline Strubbe to New York audiences
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is to present the work of director Caroline Strubbe, the first of the new batch of Flemish filmmakers to have her films selected by the prestigious cultural institute. Both her debut feature Lost Persons Area and her follow-up film I’m the same I’m an other will be screened on a daily basis throughout the first week of July.
‘Caroline Strubbe is a voice I haven’t heard before’, says Dave Kehr of the Film Department of the Museum of Modern Art. ‘At times intimate, detailed and realistic, but at the same time enigmatic, evasive and with a lot of respect for the mystery of people and places. I’m very proud and honoured to be able to present these extraordinary films to New York audiences.’
Eye on Flanders in Les Arcs
All eyes are on Flanders at this year’s European Film Festival in Les Arcs (15-22 December), with the fest organising a Focus on Belgium. No less than eight Flemish features, as well as three shorts are part of the focus. Belgian Cinema from Flanders is also well represented at the Arc 1950 coproduction forum with three projects on the bill. Additionally, Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth’s The Fifth Season is screening in the International Competition in Les Arcs and therefore in the running for a Crystal Arrow.
For its fourth edition, the European Film Festival in Les Arcs chose to add a Focus on Belgium to its line-up. Chaired by Artistic Director Frédéric Boyer, who after Cannes’ International Critics’ Week is also artistically leading the Tribeca Film Festival, the selection committee in Les Arcs nominated eight Flemish feature films and three shorts.
Lost Persons Area grabs Grand Jury Prize
Caroline Strubbe’s Lost Persons Area won the Grand Jury Prize at the Rencontres Cinématographique Salon de Provence Film Festival (29 March – 5 April). The prize is awarded by a board of members of the Rencontres Cinématographique and by special invited viewers.
In the film, a story about people lost in the meanders of life, Strubbe follows the lives of Bettina and Marcus, a passionate couple who live in a canteen in the middle of a vast field with endless lines of pylons. Marcus is trying to set up his own business and works as a foreman in the maintenance of these power-lines. Bettina, bored and longing for a better life, runs the canteen for the workingmen. Their nine-year-old daughter Tessa wanders the industrial area, looking for bits and pieces to occupy her mind, skipping school whenever she can. When Marcus hires a Hungarian engineer, Szabolcs, to become part of his company, their unconventional way of living takes a new turn. A tragic accident although will shatter everyone’s pursuit of happiness.
Cinequest picks three from Flanders
This year's 21st edition of Cinequest in San Jose, California, is to present three recent features from Flanders: Koen Mortier's 22nd of May, Hans Van Nuffel's Oxygen, and Gust Van den Berghe's Little Baby Jesus of Flandr. Cinequest 21 runs from 1-13 March.
According to Variety, Cinequest, set in the heart of Silicon Valley, 'manages to straddle two worlds – film geeks and financial barons – with remarkable alacrity… Eager to emphasize its maverick stance, the fest has positioned itself at the cutting edge, as a showcase for new technologies and champion of the more DIY end of US and global indie film businesses, with programming that routinely eschews the typical fest fare.'
Eight feature projects to receive VAF funding
The Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) has approved funding for eight fiction feature projects in different stages of development this month. The list contains both established names such as Felix van Groeningen (The Misfortunates) and Caroline Strubbe (Lost Persons Area) as well as these of emerging talents.
Half of the greenlighted projects are still in the early stages of development and have received scriptwriting support. Lee & Cindy C., a tragicomedy on rock’n roll dreams and unpredictable love, will be produced by Eyeworks Film & TV drama and scripted by Stany Crets (Old Belgium). Manu Riche receives script funding for a feature film project titled Problemski Hotel.
Last edited on 28 September 2015