PRODUCTION / FUNDING Belgium / Netherlands

The Weeping Walk to be Dimitri Verhulst’s debut feature film

15/05/2023 - The Flemish novelist (The Misfortunates) has just kicked off filming on his film, which follows the turbulent trajectory of a group of loved ones reunited by the passing of their mother

Director Dimitri Verhulst (© Michiel Hendryckx)

Known until now for his literary works and his adapted screenplays, Flemish writer Dimitri Verhulst is throwing himself into film direction with a first movie called The Weeping Walk (Waarom Wettelen), which he’s just started filming. The author can already claim a rich history with the big screen, given that his first autobiographical novel De helaasheid der dingen was adapted to great success by Felix Van Groeningen (The Misfortunates [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Felix van Groeningen
film profile], which also caused a stir in 2009 on the Croisette when it was presented in the Directors’ Fortnight), as were two other works of his, firstly by Manu Riche in the form of Problemski Hotel [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and then by Koen Mortier, courtesy of Angel [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Koen Mortier
film profile]. And whilst the author might not have directed a movie before, he did nonetheless co-write one segment of the sketch-based film Lockdown with Michael Roskam (Bullhead [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bart Van Langendonck
interview: Michaël R. Roskam
film profile], Racer and the Jailbird [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michael Roskam
film profile]), as well as the biography of actress Sylvia Kristel.

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The Weeping Walk, on the other hand, is an original screenplay. It follows the turbulent trajectory of a group of close family members who are reunited by the passing of their mother, who, to the surprise of all those present, has left very specific instructions over her burial which takes the group to a rather unsuspecting small village where, over the course of several days, a rather peculiar funeral march takes place. It’s all the time that’s needed for this little group to get to know one another better and dig up one or two family secrets en route.

The film is produced by Koen Mortier (who turned Dimitri Verhulst’s work into Angel a few years ago, as mentioned earlier) and Eurydice Gysel on behalf of Czar Film & Tv (Belgium), in co-production with Holland’s Marc Van Warmerdam and Marten Van Warmerdam on behalf of Graniet Film, with the support of the Vlaams Audiovisual Fund, the Nederlands Filmfonds, Creative Europe - MEDIA, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance and Tax Shelter. Kinepolis Film Distribution handles Belgium distribution and Dutch FilmWorks handles it in the rest of the Benelux countries, while international sales are still available.