Renaud Rutten Movies
Two unlikely characters are brought together under equally unlikely circumstances in this eccentric road comedy from Belgian auteur Bouli Lanners. Yvan (Lanners) is an auto salesman who makes a good living dealing in American luxury cars. One evening, Yvan comes home to discover a burglar has made his way into his home, and a quick search reveals the criminal, Elie (Fabrice Adde), is hiding under his bed. Elie claims to have a weapon, but Yvan is convinced he's bluffing, and when the thief finally emerges he turns out to be a junkie who is feeling the first stages of withdrawal. Yvan feels more pity than anger toward Elie, and when he discovers the would-be criminal doesn't have enough money to get home, Yvan offers to give Elie a lift to his parents' house. However, Yvan's car breaks down en route, and the Good Samaritan who helps him fix it insists on having a few drinks with Yvan and Elie, leaving Yvan intoxicated and sleepy. When Yvan drifts off while driving, he ends up wrecking his car, and he and Elie are soon at the mercy of a two strangers in a camper. Eldorado was screened as pat of the Directors' Fortnight series at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bouli Lanners, Fabrice Adde, (more)
When the Sea Rises... is the first film written and directed by actress Yolande Moreau (who also stars in the film) and cinematographer Gilles Porte (who also shot the film). Moreau stars as Irène, who is traveling the north of France performing her one-woman show. In the stage show, Irène plays a loud, obese, ugly (she wears a clownish mask) woman who comically confesses murder to the audience. At each performance, she pulls a random man out of the crowd and makes him her accomplice/lover in a mock robbery. One day on the road, Irène's car breaks down, and Dries (Wim Willaert) happens by on his scooter and rescues her. She gratefully gives him tickets to that night's performance. Spotting him with his friends in the audience, she pulls him up on stage, making him her "chicken" for that show. After the show, Dries and his friends invite her out for a drink. The next night, Dries shows up in the audience again, but gets thrown out when he gets into an argument with some rude latecomers. Irène catches him in her dressing room after the show, and gives him hell. But outside, she sees he's been in a fight and had his tires slashed, so she gives him a ride home. Dries is also a performer of sorts, building and operating giant costumes for parades throughout the region. Irène has a husband and child waiting for her back home, but she's caught off guard by Dries' attentions. When she leaves town, he impulsively follows, and the two fall into an unlikely romance. When the Sea Rises... was shown by the Film Society of Lincoln Center as part of their 2005 Rendez-Vous with French Cinema. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yolande Moreau, Wim Willaert, (more)
