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CinémaTuesdays
The Whimsical World
of Belgian Cinema
March 2–March 30, 2010
Florence Gould Hall

Screenings
March 2: A Town Called Panic
March 9: Largo Winch
March 16: Il court... il court le monde; Man Bites Dog
March 23: Toto the Hero
March 23: I’m Hungry, I’m Cold; Ma Vie en Rose
March 30: Louise-Michel
March 30: Yolande Moreau presents When the Sea Rises

FIAF is proud to present a selection of films that showcase some of the richness and diversity of Belgian cinema. Regardless of genre, these films all share a twisted, surreal, and deadpan humor that is uniquely l’humour belge. Join us for these modern classics, as well as two highly anticipated film premieres!

A Town Called Panic
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
12:30, 4 & 7:30pm
Florence Gould Hall
Part of series The Whimsical World of Belgian Cinema

Watch Trailer

Panique au village
Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar, 2009.
Color animation. 75 min.
With the voices of Stéphane Aubier, Jeanne Balibar,
Nicolas Buysse, Véronique Dumont
In French with English subtitles

Born from the delirious television series of the same name,
A Town Called Panic was the first stop-motion animated feature selected for the Cannes Film Festival (2009). Three plastic toys—Cowboy, Indian, and Horse—scramble to rebuild their house after its accidental destruction. Standing in their way are mechanical penguins, parachuting cows, and gigantic waffles… the usual obstacles.

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New York Premiere
Largo Winch
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
12:30, 4 & 7:30pm
Florence Gould Hall
Part of series The Whimsical World of Belgian Cinema

Watch Trailer

Largo Winch
Jérôme Salle, 2008. Color. 108 min.
With Tomer Sisley, Kristin Scott Thomas, Miki Manojlovic,
Mélanie Thierry
In French with English subtitles

A hugely successful Belgian comic book, Largo Winch now brings its trademark tales of international espionage to the screen. Sisley stars as the unjustly jailed son of a murdered billionaire who must crawl out of prison to prevent those who attacked his family from stealing a fortune. Enormous fun, and a New York premiere!

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Double Screening
Il court... il court le monde;
Man Bites Dog
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
12:30, 4 & 7:30pm
Florence Gould Hall
Part of series The Whimsical World of Belgian Cinema

Watch Trailer

Il court... il court le monde
Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, 1987. Color. 10 min.
With Jean-Paul Dermont, John Dobrynine, François Duisinx
In French with English subtitles

The Dardenne brothers’ first foray into fiction after years of documentary projects was this short about a television director who suffers a car crash, interrupting his work on a special about…speed. Even in this early film, the Dardennes’ hallmark themes of time and chance are very much present.

Man Bites Dog
C’est arrivé près de chez vous
Rémy Belvaux and André Bonzel, 1992. B&W. 95 min.
With Benoît Poelvoorde, Jacqueline Poelvoorde-Pappaert,
Nelly Pappaert
In French with English subtitles
Note: This film contains NC-17 rated material

Three filmmakers track the daily activities of Ben, who loves poetry and philosophy. He is also an unrepentant serial killer. Winner of the International Critics’ Prize at Cannes, Man Bites Dog is an unsettling portrait of the media and its relationship to the subjects it covers that remains frighteningly relevant today.

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Toto the Hero
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
12:30 & 7:30pm
Florence Gould Hall
Part of series The Whimsical World of Belgian Cinema

Watch Trailer

Toto le Héros
Jaco van Dormael, 1991. Color. 91 min.
With Michel Bouquet, Jo De Backer,
Thomas Godet, Gisela Uhlen
In French with English subtitles

A success at Cannes and the Césars, Toto the Hero is a mystical tale, told through flashbacks and flash forwards, of a man who believes his life is not his own. Seemingly switched at birth, Thomas endured tragedy and poverty while neighbor Alfred grew up carefree. Vibrant and enthralling.

Review
A three-ring look at life as a confluence of unrelated acts. Whether it goes off on time or not, depends entirely on the ringmaster. And van Dormael knows how to please the crowd.
—The Washington Post

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Double Screening
I’m Hungry, I’m Cold;
Ma Vie en Rose
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
4pm
Florence Gould Hall
Part of series The Whimsical World of Belgian Cinema

Watch Trailer

I’m Hungry, I’m Cold
J’ai faim, j’ai froid
Chantal Akerman, 1984. B&W. 12 min.
With Maria de Medeiros
Note: No English subtitles

Two young runaways head toward Paris from Brussels only to realize that the excitement of a journey can quickly sour into frustration. Originally part of the omnibus film Paris Seen By…20 Years After, which also included work by Philippe Garrel, this wry short now comfortably stands on its own.

Ma Vie en Rose
Alain Berliner, 1997. Color. 88 min.
With Michèle Laroque, Jean-Philippe Écoffey,
Hélène Vincent, Georges Du Fresne
In French with English subtitles

Ludovic is a seven-year-old boy who longs to be a girl. As parents, teachers, and friends react to his changing behavior, Ludovic remains resolute. His simple (yet inevitably complicating) wish stands at the center of this marvelous, profound film that won a Best Foreign Film Golden Globe and other international awards.

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U.S. Premiere
Louise-Michel
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
12:30 & 4pm
Florence Gould Hall
Part of series The Whimsical World of Belgian Cinema

Buy Tickets

Free for Members

Trailer

Louise-Michel
Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern, 2008. Color. 94 min.
With Yolande Moreau, Bouli Lanners, Michel Pinchon,
Benoît Poelvoorde, Albert Dupontel
In French with English subtitles

A group of factory workers show up for their shift one morning and discover their jobs have been outsourced. They pool together their severance pay and do the reasonable thing—they hire a hit man to kill their former boss. Yet Louise-Michel is darkly, brilliantly comic, halfway between the Coen and Dardenne brothers. A U.S. premiere!

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Meet the Director and Actress
Yolande Moreau presents
When the Sea Rises
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
7pm
Florence Gould Hall
Part of series The Whimsical World of Belgian Cinema

Buy Tickets

Free for Members

Trailer

Leading Belgian actress and film director Yolande Moreau comes to FIAF to present When the Sea Rises. Winner of two Césars for this film and one for Seraphine, Moreau will participate in a Q&A session after the screening.

Quand la mer monte…
Yolande Moreau and Gilles Porte, 2004. Color. 90 min.
With Yolande Moreau, Wim Willaert,
Olivier Gourmet, Jackie Berroyer
In French with English subtitles

Irene is a quiet loner, comfortable only on stage. A parade float operator is a kindred spirit and becomes a lover, accompanying her on tour. But her husband and child waiting at home overshadow her newfound happiness. This film proves veteran actress Moreau to also be a gifted filmmaker.

Review
Ms. Moreau’s performance deservedly won her a César
for Best Actress.
—Stephen Holden, New York Times

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Venue & Ticket Information

Venue
Florence Gould Hall
55 East 59th Street

Ticket Prices
FIAF Members FREE** ($2 advance tickets)
Non-Members $10
Students with ID $7

Buy Tickets
Online: Ticketmaster.com
Call: 212 307 4100

Fax Order Form (pdf)

Visit Box Office

**Free tickets for FIAF Members are distributed on the day of the event. Please present your Membership card at the box office. Members may purchase tickets in advance for $2.

Special Offer
Present your ticket and receive a 15% discount on your bill at Bistro 60 (37 E 60 St). Valid only on date printed on ticket.

Curated by Marie Losier

Special thanks to Annette Choynacki, Belgian Tourist Office, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Emmanuelle Lambert, Yolande Moreau, Funny Balloons, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Consulate General of Belgium in New York. With support from Rouge Tomate.

Cinéma at FIAF is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency

Winter 2010 Sponsors:
American Airlines, the official airline of FIAF
Cultural Services of the French Embassy
Culturesfrance
Florence Gould Foundation
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency

Photos courtesy of Photofest