Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

July 4 - 12, 2008

Moscow, Belgium
Aanrijding in Moscou

Colour, 35 mm
Belgium, 2008, 102 min
Section: Open Eyes
http://www.moscow-belgium.com

Film screenings:
236 - 5.7., 19:00, Congress Hall - Thermal
3R1 - 6.7., 10:30, Richmond Cinema
8K1 - 11.7., 10:00, Panasonic Cinema

Director: Christophe van Rompaey
Screenplay: Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem, Pat van Beirs
Dir. of Photography: Ruben Impens
Music: Tuur Florizoone
Designer: Steven Liegeois
Editor: Alain Dessauvage
Producer: Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem
Production: A Private View
Sales: Bavaria Film International

Cast

Barbara Sarafian, Jurgen Delnaet, Johan Heldenbergh, Anemone Valcke, Sofia Ferri, Julian Borsani

Synopsis

Embittered postwoman Matty is facing the start of a middle-age crisis, her husband has abandoned her for a younger woman, leaving her with three pubertal children. When she meets truck driver Johnny, ten years her junior, it takes a while before she responds to his evident interest in her. Gradually Matty and Johnny get together, much to the dismay of her adolescent daughter and husband, now back on the scene. This romantic but not slushy film follows its charismatic heroine on a journey towards happiness and late romance. The story unfolds in Moscow, a working-class neighbourhood of Ghent, a gently humoured tale of mismatched love between a 40-year-old postwoman and a 30-year-old truck driver, told in a civil, realistic style. The superb performances and outstanding dialogues underscore the genuine appeal and engaging credibility of the film. Moscow, Belgium was screened at Cannes during this year’s International Critics’ Week, from where it took away several awards.

About the director

Christophe van Rompaey (b. 1970, Ghent, Belgium) made several short films while he was still a student. After graduating he began making shorts, commercials and, as assistant director, he was involved in a number of films made in Belgium and the Netherlands. His three dark and mysterious short films Grijs (1995), Ex.#N°1870–4 (1999) and Oh my God?! (2001) took away prizes from various festivals. Van Rompaey also directed twelve episodes of the popular relationship series Team Spirit (2002), and also worked on the comedy series Hallelujah (2004) about the romantic misadventures of a guardian angel. In 2007 he directed three episodes of the dark crime series Missing (Vermist). Moscow, Belgium is his feature debut; he is currently preparing his second feature Blanco, based on the novel by Peter Terrin. He is developing a new project with the writers of the film Moscow, Belgium.

Film Guests

Christophe van Rompaey

Contacts

Bavaria Film International
Bavariafilmplatz 7, D - 82031 Geiselgasteig
Germany
Tel: +49 89 649 926 86
Fax: +49 89 649 937 20
E-mail: international@bavaria-film.de
www: www.bavaria-film-international.com