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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

It's not often that the editing is the standout aspect of a film, but Nico Leunen's controlled cutting across time frames and between moods is crucial to this drama's emotional impact. Johan Heldenbergh excels as the Belgian bluegrass singer who falls for tattoo artist Veerle Baetens but finds his world rocked first by the news that she is pregnant and then, six years later, that their daughter is dying of cancer. Director Felix van Groeningen ingeniously switches between moments of exhilaration and agony, making deft use of some inspired musical choices to reinforce the depth of feeling experienced by the couple and their band mates. But, after events take a turn for the tragic, the story is hijacked by some clumsy rants about science versus religion, which make the dénouement seem thuddingly melodramatic rather than devastatingly authentic. The performances (both dramatic and musical) are outstanding, though, as is Ruben Impens's elegant widescreen photography, which makes the narrative's mawkish meltdown all the more disappointing.

How to watch

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Credits

Cast

rolename
Didier Bontinck, "Monroe"Johan Heldenbergh
Elise Vandevelde, "Alabama"Veerle Baetens
MaybelleNell Cattrysse
WilliamGeert Van Rampelberg
JockNils De Caster
JimmyRobbie Cleiren
JefBert Huysentruyt
KoenJan Bijvoet

Crew

rolename
DirectorFelix van Groeningen

Details

Theatrical distributor
Studio Canal
Released on
2013-10-18
Languages
English | Dutch
Guidance
Swearing, sex scenes.
Available on
DVD
Formats
Colour
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