BELGIUM / NETHERLANDS – 2012 – 111 MIN – COLOUR - FEATURE - IN  FLEMISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
A FILM BY FELIX VAN GROENINGEN

THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN tells the love story between Elise and Didier. She has her own tattoo shop, he plays the banjo in a band. It is love at first sight, in spite of major differences. He talks, she listens. He is a dedicated atheist, although at the same time a naïve romantic. She has a cross tattooed on her neck, even though she has both feet firmly on the ground. Their happiness is complete after their little girl Maybelle is born.

However, the family is devastated when, at six year-old, Maybelle becomes gravely ill. Didier and Elise respond in very different ways. But Maybelle does not leave them any choice. Didier and Elise have to fight for her together.

Is love enough to get a couple through something so difficult? Or does love let a couple down when they need it most?

THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN is an intense melodrama, full of passion and music. About how love can conquer fate, and sometimes not.

DIRECTOR
Felix van Groeningen (°1977) graduated with a Master Audiovisual Arts from the KASK in Ghent in 2000, with his short movie ‘50 CC.' Dirk Impens, of production studio Menuet, at the time already liked van Groeningen's stubborn talent. Funny detail: Impens was also Felix' teacher at the KASK.

Felix made a few short films and wrote and directed various theatre pieces, such as ‘Best of' and ‘Discotheque' for the theatre group Kung Fu, Victoria. In addition, he played the lead in the play ‘Aalst', also with theatre group Victoria.

After various detours through the cultural world, Felix decisively chose to return to his first love: making movies. Together with producer Dirk Impens, Felix has so far directed three full-length movies.

 

NNNN! "Heldenbergh and Baetens are both fantastic, pushing themselves to uncomfortable places and letting us understand when they make terrible choices... It’s heavy going – really, seriously heavy – but worth it. 
- NOW MAGAZINE

9 out of 10! "hitting notes of grace and insight before delivering a devastating final chord."
- THE GRID

"Belgian Oscar-bait so good, it’ll bring you to tears”
- THE NATIONAL POST

“...it’s a country song come to life.”
- THE WHOLENOTE MAGAZINE

An interview wit h Felix Van Groeningen
- GROLSCH FILM WORKS

"...there is a sense of nobility and honesty behind this story that keeps our attention: its vision of the way couples cope with guilt and despair is sincere.”
- NEXT PROJECTION

"The film is Belgium’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film at next year’s Oscars and I would argue that it’s an early front-runner.”
- TORONTO FILM SCENE

“...THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN is exceptionally well made.”
- TORONTO SUN

“...seek this film out at all costs."
- DIGITAL JOURNAL

"...it's exceptional melodrama, raw and emotional.”
- FILM FREAK CENTRAL

“...an incredibly powerful look at how a family unit and the lives in it can shatter into a million pieces."
- CRITICIZE THIS!

“...certainly one of the must-see movies of 2013.”
- MY eTV MEDIA