The Broken Circle Breakdown
Elise (Veerle Baetens) and Didier (Johan Heldenbergh) 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 enthusiasm for American music and culture, and dive headfirst into a sweeping romance that plays out on and off stage — but when an unexpected tragedy hits their new family, everything they know and love is tested. An intensely moving portrait of a relationship from beginning to end, propelled by a soundtrack of foot-stomping bluegrass, "The Broken Circle Breakdown" is a romantic melodrama of the highest order.
Flemish w/English subtitles
Director:
Felix Van Groeningen
Cast:
Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh, Robby Cleiren, Geert Van Rampelberg
Screenplay:
Carl Joos, Felix Van Groeningen
Screening Date:
Oct 19, 2013
Studio:
Tribeca Film
Running Time:
110 minutes
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.4% | 32.7% | 13.5% | 9.6% | 3.8% |
“ Stunning and surprising film; magnificent tapestry of music and seamless intercutting creating a look of past and present of this couple. Not melodramatic but the unfolding of a relationship. The young girl is as pivotal an element as the band members. Music is fabulous! Surprising that the wife dies too. I love the sequence with Bush and big discussion of stem cells raises huge questions. Really great!”
“Regret that his rational on stage speech was presented as such a hot headed rant.”
“Grim film. Was there anything uplifting? I want to go out for lunch and order arsenic.”
“A really tough movie to watch but beautifully done.”
“Beautifully tragic love story.”
“Too too sad!”
“Flashbacks were confusing.”
“Loved the part where he yells at Bush. I enjoyed the singing.”
“A fabulous realistic portrayal of love and loss. The pain and the anguish were totally felt. My heart is very heavy from this film, which shows how powerful and well made it is.”
“I’ve become a lover of Bluegrass! The realm between the religious/spiritual and godless pragmatist is provocative particularly as it plays out in the last scene. Do you believe or not as her ethereal self roams the hospital hall?”
“Very heavy and very well done.”
"Here’s a film with two deathbed scenes, a spinal tap on a five year old, and I think it among the best films I’ve ever seen. Philosophically profound, raising ultimate questions of life and beliefs, yet combined with near perfect Bluegrass music. Who’d have thunk it?"
“There will be a huge blog/internet questioning of what the wife’s spirit whispers in his ear at the end, like Bill Murray whispering in the ear of Scarlett Johansen in LOST IN TRANSLATION."
“I’m glad to see that they didn’t make it cliché. What it is truly like to see someone die of cancer and the breakdown that follows. Truly touching. Tissues should be handed out before the film starts.”
"(Spoiler alert!) The wife’s belief’s will always offer a cold ear to logic because religion is, by it’s nature, illogical. And her supposed ‘victory’ at the end is hollow if it means she has to commit suicide to prove it."
“The film was an enjoyable film to watch. I cried at the scene of Maybelle and the crow and I felt emotionally attached with the characters. The past was shown using the TV with September 11, which made me think back to that time. This editing was very jumpy which at times caused me to get confused. I was able to understand that two different people with different beliefs fell in love, with their love of Bluegrass music to help them through the hard times.”
“Superb outstanding ending. The measure of a successful film or any work of art for that matter is how well it pulls you into it and how much of it that lodges in you… This film worked, but what a heavy exchange for me. Philosophically who can say if religion or reason is right or truest? In the end what this film presents to us and what we have is a community. Music and each other is this film’s religion.” Jeanne K
“Sensitive issues dealt with painfully and delicately. Cried a lot.”
“The bluegrass groups and cowboys in Belgium sing in English but didn’t speak English? I didn’t need to see this film. Utterly depressing and if it had a message, I’m not sure what it is. Painful to watch, not a bit entertaining, except for the music, which was the only art of the film, which was worth watching. And why on earth were they smoking after what they had gone through? Also, the story was predictable and the screenplay hits us over the head to explain events.”
“This movie blew me away.”
"A challenging film to watch, both in subject matter – depressing - and in it’s presentation – the narrative sturcture that jumped back and forth in time. Was it worth it? A huge YES! This is why I come to MEA.”
“Very adult. Very un-Disney as well as un-Hollywood. Good film, script, film evolves. The cast works. Hard to take and hard to recommend without full disclosure.”
“Fabulous music.”
If you'd like to know more about the film...
If you loved the soundtrack, you can stream it on spotify using this link!:
The Broken Circle Breakdown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1. Will the Circle Be Unbroken – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
2. The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
3. Dusty Mixed Feelings - Björn Eriksson
4. Wayfaring Stranger – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
5. Rueben’s Train – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
6. Country In My Genes – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
7. Further On Up The Road – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
8. Where Are You Heading, Tumbleweed? - Björn Eriksson
9. Over In The Gloryland – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
10. Cowboy Man – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
11. If I Needed You – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
12. Carved Tree In - Björn Eriksson
13. Sandmountain – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
14. Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
15. Blackberry Blossom – The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band
https://play.spotify.com/album/6ZAMBVFqOXYFMlqXRjxCdp?play=true&utm_sour...
If you want to know more about the director and his inspiration and creative process...:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnFtUyteqY8
