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
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 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
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
The Giants (2011)
6.7/10
Director: Bouli Lanners
Starring: Marthe Keller, Zacharie Chasseriaud, Martin Nissen
When two brothers are left by their parents for the summer at their dead grandfather's house in rural Belgium, they take to the surrounding countrysid... Read more
The Kid with a Bike (2011)
7.4/10
Director: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Starring: Fabrizio Rongione, Jeremie Renier, Olivier Gourmet, Cecile De France, Thomas Dor...
Cyril (Thomas Doret), almost 12, has only one plan: to find the father who left him temporarily in a children's home. By chance he meets Samantha (Cec... Read more
Saint (2010)
5.6/10
Director: Dick Mass
Starring: Huub Stapel, Egbert Weeber, Caro Lenssen
The Saint Nick in this Dutch horror outing isn't the toy-dispensing Santa Claus you know and love, but a bloodthirsty medieval bishop-turned-pirate wh... Read more
Sister Smile (2009)
6.5/10
Director: Stijn Coninx
Starring: Jan Decleir, Sandrine Blancke, Cecile De France, Johan Leysen
Cecile de France stars in the true story of Jeannine Deckers, international '60s pop icon Soeur Sourire, or The Singing Nun. Jeannine's dull parents w... Read more
The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009)
4.4/10
Director: Tom Six
Starring: Akihiro Kitamura, Dieter Laser, Andreas Leupold, Ashley C Williams, Ashlynn Yenn...
Advertised as being 100% medically accurate, this outrageous horror film finds two stranded American tourists and a Japanese businessman held captive... Read more
The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (Blu-ray) (2009)
4.4/10
Director: Tom Six
Starring: Akihiro Kitamura, Dieter Laser, Andreas Leupold, Ashley C Williams, Ashlynn Yenn...
Advertised as being 100% medically accurate, this outrageous horror film finds two stranded American tourists and a Japanese businessman held captive... Read more