Dirk Impens Movies

A boy growing up with a family of Flemish slobs learns more than his elders imagined they were capable of teaching in this purposefully rude comedy-drama. Gunther Strobbe (Kenneth Vanbaeden) is thirteen years old and living with his father Marcel (Koen De Graeve), his three uncles (Bert Haelvoet, Johan Heldenbergh and Wouter Hendrickx) and his grandmother (Gilda De Bal). You would think that Gunther has more than enough adult role models in his life, but the Strobbes are not an ordinary family; Marcel works part-time as a letter carrier, though the fact there are several bars on his route makes getting the work done a challenge, while his brothers are booze-addled layabouts who sponge off their mother, who is too sweet to deny them her meager pension. Gunther loves his family, but they often seem more like seedy playmates than authority figures, as the men in the house spend their days gulping down beer and sausage, breaking things, playing rude pranks on others and chasing women, often with hilarious but embarrassing consequences. Years later, Gunther has launched a career as a writer, is married and is expecting a son; suddenly frightened by the new responsibilities that await him, Gunther seeks out Marcel and his brothers for some advice on fatherhood, a subject one might not imagine is one of their strong suits. Directed by Felix van Groeningen, De Helaasheid der Dingen (aka The Misfortunates) was adapted from the novel by Dimitri Verhulst. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A pair of misfits on the wrong side of the law fall in love in this offbeat independent drama from Belgium. Steve (Titus De Voogdt) thinks he's having a good night when he meets a beautiful woman named Sky (Delfine Bafort) at a nightclub, but he forced to reconsider that opinion moments later when he manages to get busted for selling ecstasy. While in jail, Steve becomes friendly with Jean-Claude (Johan Heldenbergh), a philosophical sort who is confined to a wheelchair. After he's released, Steve goes to work for Jean-Claude, helping out at his strip club, only to run into Sky again; it seems she makes her living as a stripper and turns tricks when finances demand it, and has a close friendship with Jean-Claude. Steve and Sky soon fall for one another, but Steve becomes curious about the true nature of her relationship with Jean-Claude. Steve + Sky was the first feature film from writer and director Felix Van Groeningen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Writer-director Vincent Bal debuts with this understated coming-of-age story. Thirteen-year-old Victor (Ides Meire) is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Ostend after the death of his father. When he and his Uncle go to the taxidermist to have a stuffed dog fix, Victor meets Fania (Charlotte de Ruyter), a pretty girl about his age. Soon teenage hormones are raging, and little seems to stand between Victor and his first kiss except his own elaborate fantasy world. He images himself as the Man of Steel, a comic-book superhero with the strength and emotions of iron. Man Van Staal was screened at the 1999 Flanders Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

A mismatched couple find themselves trying to work out their many differences with a four-month winter blackout looming before them in the romantic comedy-drama When the Light Comes. Ellen (Francesca Vanthielen) is a college student looking for an unusual summer job and seems to have found one when she gets work on a ship sailing into the Arctic Circle, where she starts to get friendly with a handsome sailor named Robbert (Rick Engelkes). However, during a quick stop to pick up supplies, Ellen impulsively jumps ship to find out what the life of an arctic trapper is like, and soon finds herself hooked up with Lars (Joachim Krol). Lars doesn't really know what to say to Ellen, and, even if he did, they wouldn't understand each other anyway -- she speaks English and he Norwegian. He also has a hard time keeping his hands to himself -- no great surprise, since for the last several months his only companions have been a pack of sled dogs. In time, Lars learns enough English to be able to communicate with Ellen, and her youthful spunk starts to mesh with his man-of-the-land personality. But will Ellen give Lars what he's so obviously interested in, or does she still have Robbert on the brain? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Brylcream Boulevard is the second in Belgian filmmaker Robbe De Hert's uncompleted "Belgian Graffiti" trilogy. The first installment, Blueberry Hill was set in the mid '50s and chronicled the lives and adventures of a group of high school students. This episode begins five years later in the early '60s and looks at how adulthood has changed them. Robin De Hert, the former rebel returns home after a stint in the Navy and discovers his old nemesis Mr. Verbiest, the crooked teacher he oust, has become a corrupt politician. This particularly galls Robin, who still blames Verbiest for the death of his best friend in high school. Enlisting the aid of his ex-girl friend and high school buddies, Robin devises an ingenious scheme for revenge. Unfortunately, his elaborate sexual entrapment plan (the results of which he will broadcast on television) seems dicey to the others, so he prepares a plan B. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide