Blue Bird

Colour, DCP
Belgium, 2011, 86 min
Section: Another View

Synopsis

Blue Bird is loosely based on the stage play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck. Although the protagonists are still two children, the director set the story in Africa, specifically in Togo. One morning Bafiokadié and his sister Téné leave their village to find their lost blue bird before the day is over. But they find much more along the way – they meet their dead grandparents, fight with the Soul of the Forest, and get invaluable advice from the Chief of Pleasure. On their path to maturity they lose their bird but gain understanding. The highly stylized movie adaptation is no less original. Its magic and appeal come from a combination of its visual components (the film is presented in supercinemascope and tinged blue) and the lively, spontaneous, amateur performances by the two children and the other players. In connection with the film, director Van den Berghe remarked that "a day is a life.”

About the director

Gust Van den Berghe (b. 1985) is a multi-talented Belgian artist. He began dancing at a very early age, and performed with Praga Khan, the Royal Ballet of Flanders, and Marc Bogaerts, as well as in several plays. He then studied at the School of Audiovisual Art of Brussels. He has shot several short films (My Daddy and Me; Cut, both 2006; On the Surface, 2007) and documentaries (cum*SHOT and Les Petits Rois, both 2007; Tegenpolen, 2008). This year, like his feature debut Little Baby Jesus of Flandr (En waar de sterre bleef stille staan, 2010), Blue Bird was presented at Cannes in the Directors’ Fortnight section. The director is now writing another script for a feature, the final installment of his triptych.