Monday, April 14, 2014

The Broken Circle Breakdown

No one said life was easy. No life begins and ends perfectly. No one can lead a life without a few bumps in the road.

That certainly seems to be the main theme for Felix Van Groeningen's The Broken Circle Breakdown. Following the lives of Didier (Johan Heldenbergh, who also co-wrote the play the film is based on) and Elise (Veerle Baetens), the film shows how with every happy moment in one's life, tragedy will follow suit. (Like I said, life isn't easy.)

This is a small detail I often notice when watching foreign films. Most Hollywood films want to end on a positive note whereas foreign films aren't afraid to have a downer ending. (It also tends to sum up why I don't watch them as much as I should.) Basically if you want a sad ending, watch something not made in the United States.

How can I sum up The Broken Circle Breakdown into a concise sentence? Well, I suppose comparing it to a film from recent memory would do, but which one? Oh, that's easy. The Broken Circle Breakdown is like a more depressing Blue Valentine. (And that's saying a lot.)

Long story short, The Broken Circle Breakdown is devastating. Thanks to Heldenbergh and Baetens' performances, the film showcases how life can deal a cruel hand from time to time. And God, it'll hurt your heart immensely.

My Rating: *****

2 comments:

  1. Definitely a devastating film. That final shot just slayed me. Such power.

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  2. A MORE depressing Blue Valentine? Wow.

    ReplyDelete

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