International Documentaries

Life, Animated is the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films. This emotional coming-of-age story follows Owen as he graduates to adulthood and takes his first steps toward independence. The subject of his father Ron Suskind’s New York Times bestseller, Owen was a thriving three year old who suddenly and inexplicably went silent – and for years after remained unable to connect with other people or to convey his thoughts, feelings or desires.

Over time, through repeated viewings of Disney classics like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, Owen found useful tools to help him to understand complex social cues and to re-connect with the world around him.

Life, Animated evocatively interweaves classic Disney sequences with verite scenes from Owen’s life in order to explore how his identification and empathy for characters like Simba, Jafar, and Ariel gave him a means to understand his feelings and allowed him to interpret reality.  Beautiful, original animations offer rich insights into Owen’s fruitful dialogue with the Disney oeuvre as he imagines himself heroically facing adversity as a member in a tribe of sidekicks.

Owen’s story is a moving testament to the many ways in which stories can serve as a means of persevering through the dark times, leading us all toward the light.

DRIES brings an intimate and fascinating portrait of Flemish fashion designer Dries Van Noten whose style is characterized by warm colors, exquisite prints and rich embroidery. As one of the last independent fashion designers, he holds a unique position in the fashion landscape. He has been at the top for 25 years already and a lot of his collections can be called iconic. Van Noten himself is known for his soberness and modesty, you will hardly ever meet him at fashion parties and he rarely gives interviews. For the first time, he lets in a camera into his professional and personal life. Director Reiner Holzemer followed Dries Van noten for a year through the creation of four collections.

Reiner Holzemer / 2017 / 1h30 / With: Dries Van Noten, Iris Apfel, Suzy Menkes, Pamela Golbin e.a.

In the eyes of many, Sweden is a perfectly organised society. Thanks to a fine piece of social engineering, the Swedish civilians are the most free and independent of the world. Perfect right? Does this hyperindividuality and advanced self-development make people happier? Do people not need community, contact and unity? Do we really want that total individual independence?

In 1972, the Swedish government published a manifesto titled "The Family of the Future". In this manifesto they put forward a new societal ideal: only when people are fundamentally independent from each other, they can have authentic relationships. The Swedish society put everything to work to be able to offer equal opportunities and an independent existence to everyone. Women can perfectly choose single motherhood through a spermbank, the sick and the elderly can rely on the instutions that they need, a woman can no longer be denpendent of her husband for her financial wellbeing, children can't be dependent from their parents. Because only then it is possible to experience real, authentic love: when we no longer need the other. This starting point is an ideal for most people in the Western society to this day. Many decades after tge launch if this manifesto, people start having doubts. Because when people no longer need each other, there is no longer a need for social contacts. The results are starting to shoc... 

Filmmaker Erik Gandini (Videocracy) knows like no other how he has to look behind this façade of our 'perfect' Western world. In his usual uptempo style, with beautiful images, sophisticated soundtrack and immersive voice-over Gandini makes The Swedish Theory of Love a fascinating reflection on our society where people strive for individual independence. Sometimes funny, often profoundly sad, the movie asks resolute questions about the search for hapinness, human relations and the essence of being human.

A movie by Erik Gandini | 2015

Koen, Daan, Sven and Jeanine; four Zeelandic young teenagers with big dreams. They all work on their parents' farm. The seasons pass by, the crops are being sown and harvested, animals are being born and slaughtered. The cycles of sowing and harvesting determine their view on the world. Each in their own way dreams to continue the farm life; a deep rooted dream that is never doubted. But little by little their view becomes wider and more complex and slowly they become more curious of what is beyond the acres. Every one of them has to learn how to deal with their own changing worldview and with influences from the outside. A future as a farmer is still the dream, but it misses the obviousness from before. The survival of the family business depends on this new generation. but what about their own dreams and desires? The young protagonists are in a crucial stage of their life, in which the relationship between man and nature is externalized more than ever.

A film by Janet van den Brand / 2018 / 1h13 / België

"Impeccable cinematography, immersive sound design on par with Dunkirk and Mad Max: Fury Road, a therapeutic experience that makes viewers aware of the essence of humanity" - Screen Anarchy

This is the story of 75-year old Magnumphotographer Harry Gruyaert, whose life was saved by color. Harry grew up in a strict catholic Flemish family. His father, who works at Agfa Gevaert, doesn't want him to be a photographer because that would have been sinful. And so Harry decides to leave the house and starts travelling. suffocated by his grey, oppressive background, he suddenly discovers the world of light and color. Driven by a love-hate-relationship and an irresistible urge to become a photographer, Harry grows into the European pioneer of color photography.

With music by Tuur Florizooneand camerawork of Jimmy Kets.

"Harry touches an interesting field of tension. He's a photographer who lives for that one image. I'm a filmmaker and I love stories. Harry's work is essential, but I also want to tell the story of his person." - Knack Focus

"Harry Gruyaert. Photographer is an intimate portrait that combines lifetime with reflection about work and house style. In its imagery the documentary feels like photography, as if someone with a good eye has looked through the camera. And that shouldn't be surprising: the camerawork has been done by Jimmy Kets. An honorable image of a Big Mister. With a special mention for the delightful accordion-soundtrack by Tuur Florizoone." - De Morgen 

"Highly recommended" - Patrick Duynslaegher

Molenbeek, Brussel. Voor sommigen een broeinest van jihadi, maar voor de 6-jarige vrienden Aatos en Amine is het hun thuis. Dit is waar ze luisteren naar het geluid van spinnen, ontdekken wat een zwart gat is en kibbelen over wie er vooraan mag zitten op het vliegend tapijt dat hen naar het land van hun voorouders zal brengen. Ze wonen in hetzelfde gebouw maar hebben een totaal andere thuissituatie. Finland maakt kennis met Marokko, atheïsme schurkt zachtjes aan tegen de islam. De goden van Aatos en Amine zijn met velen, sommigen zijn echt, anderen zijn uitgevonden. Ze vormen de aanleiding voor speelse discussies, tot een terroristische aanval in Brussel en Zaventem hun harmonieuze wereld verstoort.

Gewapende soldaten patrouilleren nu de straten, kaarsen worden aangestoken ter nagedachtenis en zelfs in de verhaaltjes voor het slapengaan vallen er slachtoffers. De twee jongens zoeken naar de betekenis van dit alles. Ze fantaseren dat ze de laatste overlevenden zijn, de sterkste van allemaal. Tot een onverwachte gebeurtenis hun leven voorgoed zal veranderen.

Goden van Molenbeek is een film over vriendschap, geloof en identiteit. En bovenal, een film over wat ons bindt.

EXTRA: 'Aatos & De Wereld' is een ingekorte versie op kindermaat van de documentaire Goden van Molenbeek. Gefilmd door de ogen van kinderen.

Reetta Huhtanen • 2019 • België • 82 min.