Dutch & Belgian Cinema
Like New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands have small populations and consequently small film budgets that rely heavily on government funding. As a result film makers from these countries, like our own, have a reputation for innovative methods and a roll-your-sleeves-up attitude. When Dutch director Paul Verhoeven first moved to Hollywood he was stunned by the excess of the industry there; his second U.S. film, 'Robocop', contains many digs at the ultimate consumerist society that were not in the original script he was given. In 1992 three Belgian film students released their daring and controversial film, 'Man Bites Dog'; made on a shoe-string this film proves the point that it doesn't take great amounts of money to make great films - just plenty of imagination, dedication and a fair amount elbow grease.
Pictured: A scene from castrato Farinelli's colourful and eventful life
Bride Flight (2008)
7/10
Director: Ben Sombogaart
Starring: Rutger Hauer, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Elise Schaap, Anna Drijver, Karina Smulders...
Based on a true story that tells of the last Great Air Race, from London to Christchurch in 1953, which carried 26 young Dutch brides-to-be on their w... Read more
Character (1997)
7.8/10
Director: Mike Van Diem
Starring: Fedja Van Huet, Jan Decleir, Betty Schuurman
Winner of the 1997 Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, this Dickensian drama is set in Rotterdam during the 1920s detailing the events that occur... Read more
The Child ( L'Enfant ) (2005)
4.2/10
Director: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Starring: Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois, Jeremie Segard, Fabrizio Rongione, Olivier Gou...
Sofia and her boyfriend Bruno are two irresponsible teens living on the bottom rung of the social ladder. When Sofia falls pregnant and gives birth t... Read more
The Salvation (2014)
6.7/10
Director: Kristian Levring
Starring: Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Eric Cantona, Mikael Persbrandt
1870, America. Danish immigrant Jon (Mads Mikkelsen) has been waiting for years to bring his wife and son to the United States. When he finally succee... Read more
The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012)
7.8/10
Director: Felix Van Groeningen
Starring: Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh, Jan Bijvoet
Elise and Didier fall in love at first sight. She has her own tattoo shop and he plays the banjo in a bluegrass band. They bond over their shared enth... Read more
The Fourth Man (1984)
7.3/10
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Jeroen Krabbe, Renee Soutendijk, Thom Hoffman
Paul Verhoeven's surprise hit is a roller-coaster ride through forbidden sensual pleasure in the context of a kinky thriller. The three men in Christi... Read more
The House of Magic (2013)
6.3/10
Director: Ben Stassen, Jeremie Degruson
An utterly charming and marvellously realised effort across the board, this action-packed fantasy adventure comes from the Belgian animation studio re... Read more
The Brand New Testament (2015)
7.1/10
Director: Jaco Van Dormael
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Benoit Poelvoorde, Francois Damiens, Yolande Moreau, Pili Gro...
In Belgian director Jaco Van Dormaels universe, God (Benoit Poelvoorde) is a mean-spirited bastard lounging around his Brussels apartment in dressing... Read more
Jackie (2012)
6.8/10
Director: Antoinette Beumer
Starring: Holly Hunter, Carice Van Houten, Jelka van Houten
Dutch twin sisters travel to America to look for their long-lost mother. Read more
Suskind (2012)
6.9/10
Director: Rudolf van den Berg
Starring: Karl Markovics, Jeroen Spitzenberger, Nyncke Beekhuyzen, Katja Herbers, Nasrdin...
Rudolf van den Berg directs this remarkable true story from the Netherlands. Amsterdam, Summer 1942. Walter Süskind (Jeroen Spitzenberger) can count h... Read more