email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

CANNES 2008 Belgium

Versus takes on Cannes

by 

Led by the Dardenne brothers – selected for the third time in official competition with The Silence of Lorna [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arta Dobroshi
interview: Arta Dobroshi
interview: Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne
interview: Olivier Bronckart
film profile
]
– there will be a strong Belgian contingent at the 61st Cannes Film Festival, represented in particular by films from Liège.

Versus Productions, the smallest Liège-based company, will present two features in the Directors’ Fortnight. Joachim Lafosse’s Elève Libre [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacques-Henri Bronckart
interview: Joachim Lafosse
film profile
]
(“Free Pupil”) – a project selected in the Cinéfondation Workshop in 2005 – explores the personal themes developed by the prolific young director in Private Property [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(2007), a critical success that garnered 20,000 admissions in French-speaking Belgium.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Elève Libre centres on the conflictual and damaging relationship between a teenage school dropout and a rather dubious mentor who, under the pretext of liberating the young man, takes advantage of his youth.

Bouli Lanners’s second feature, Eldorado [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, is a curious road movie set in the Belgian Steppes, punctuated by lyrical and outlandish sequences that evoke the dry humour of the Coen brothers. The film will be released in France and Belgium in June.

Versus will thus once again have a strong presence at Cannes. Last year, the company presented Horse Thieves [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Micha Wald in the Critics’ Week (the director’s short Alice et Moi received the Small Golden Rail at Cannes in 2004). In 2006, Versus accompanied Days of Glory [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jean Bréhat
interview: Rachid Bouchareb
film profile
]
(Best Actor Award and François Chalais Award).

The lively Liège film production scene has also left its mark on Claire Simon’s Les Bureaux de Dieu [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(“God’s Offices”, Directors’ Fortnight), produced by Richard Copans for Les Films d’ici (France) and co-produced by La Parti Production (Belgium).

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

(Translated from French)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy