Flemish Documentaries

DOCVILLE presents 9 of the best Flemish documentaries of the past year in one box. The DOCVILLE-box is an amazing best of from the recent Flemish documentary and an illustration of the boom of the sector. A lot of the films also made a name for themselves abroad.

Content dvd-box

• Junior
The story of boxer Junior Bauwens.

• 9999
The most sensational Flemish documentary of the past year and appeared on all newschannels and in every newsmagazine.

• What About Eric?
Winner of the Best Belgian documentary DOCVILLE 2014 and the Ensor for Best Documentary at the Ostend Film Festival. 

• Feel My Love
Griet Teck delivered a serene documentary about people suffering from dementia..

• Desert Haze
For years now, documentary maker Sofie Benoot is fascinated by the American dessert. In the film she shares her search for tracks people left in the sand.

• Rêve Kakudji
Serge Kakudji is a young Congolese autodidactic opera singer that is determined to further build his carreer. Film maker Ibbe Daniels and journalist Koen Vidal bring a remarkable portrait.

• OdysSea
A documentary by Jimmy Kets, that follows the journey of Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer along the European coast line in this road movie.

• Behind the Redwood Curtain
Forests speek to the imagination of Western Europeans that live in chopped down fields or fully covered cities. This fascination is very tangible in this documentary by Liesbeth De Ceulaer. Winner of the Best Belgian Documentary on DOCVILLE 2013.

• Thank God it's Friday
A compelling documentary about the Palestine-Israëlian conflict, told by personal portraits of Palestinians and Israëli's.

 

All of these DVD's are sold seperately as well!

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A central city is tossed back and forth between preparations for a major festive event - the Cycling World Championships - and hostage-taking by COVID-19. Like a contemporary chronicler, director Lode Desmet films his city during a period that was unprecedented for everyone. He sees Leuven and its people changing during the corona crisis, streets emptying and filling up again, hopes and plans coming and going. A contemporary chronicle of an extraordinary period. Learn More

Rebecca, Fernand en Delphine weten dat hun einde nabij is. Het sterven is een deel van hun dagelijks leven geworden. Touching Infinity volgt hen in de laatste weken van hun leven. Voorbij de angst en het verdriet, nemen zij ons mee op een tocht, gedragen door liefde, dankbaarheid en diepe verbondenheid. Zonder voorbij te gaan aan de ernst, is Touching Infinity een film van hoop en lichtheid tijdens deze laatste groeifase van het leven. Van de maakster van Feel My Love komt deze uitzonderlijke, warme film over de troostende schoonheid en kracht van afscheid nemen.
Rebecca leeft al vijf jaar met kanker. Haar man Bart en hun drie jonge dochters Helena, Elodie en Feline gaan hier elk op hun eigen manier mee om. Nu het einde dichterbij komt, groeit Rebecca’s verlangen om bewust afscheid te nemen. Dat gebeurt op een zeer open, liefdevolle en serene manier. Het afscheid onthult de essentie van het leven. Fernand en Emma zijn een oud en kinderloos stel. Ze waren en zijn nog steeds elkaars grote liefde. Al mijmerend kijken ze terug op een mooie tijd samen. Voor Emma is een leven zonder Fernand, met wie ze 62 jaar samen was, bijna ondenkbaar. De hoogbejaarde Delphine woont in bij haar dochter Myriam. Haar nieren gaan snel achteruit en een onverwerkt verdriet valt haar zwaar. Gelukkig staat Myriam aan haar zijde om met liefde en de nodige humor voor haar te zorgen.

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"Een documentaire om stil van te worden." ★★★★ - Filmmagie

"Kunnen documentaires zó aangrijpend zijn dat ze bijna ondraaglijk worden?" ★★★ - Humo

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Naast de documentaire Touching Infinity zelf bevat de dvd het nagesprek van de première op DOCVILLE. De deelnemers van dit gesprek waren regisseur Griet Teck, Bart, de man van de overleden Rebecca en dokter Gert Huysmans, voorzitter van de Federatie Palliatieve Zorg Vlaanderen. Friedl' Lesage was de moderator.

Griet Teck • 2020 • België • 76 min.

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Het leven is een schouwtoneel, maar wat als het doek bijna valt? Leo is 80 en reist de wereld rond met het internationaal dans- en theatercollectief Peeping Tom. Actief zijn, creatief zijn en in het gezelschap verkeren van jonge, energieke mensen houdt hem jong. In het stuk ‘Vader’ speelt hij een man die door zijn zoon wordt achtergelaten in een bejaardentehuis, gedumpt. Lokale senioren spelen de andere bewoners van het rusthuis. Ook voor hen is creatief zijn, een belangrijk onderdeel van hun leven. Thuis, in België, is het Leo’s vrouw die in een instelling zit en wacht op haar man. Leo zal moeten kiezen tussen de zorg voor zijn vrouw en het afremmen van zichzelf voor een actieve oude dag. Hoe wil je de ‘derde leeftijd’ doorbrengen? Zal er iemand zijn die voor jou zorgt? In ‘Third Act’ worden de verhalen uit de voorstellingen verweven met de persoonlijke verhalen van de acteurs en de lokale extra’s.

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"Theater en leven, fictie en realiteit, oud en minder oud:
het loopt in de docu ‘Third act’ ontroerend mooi door elkaar." **** De Standaard

"Kleine momenten van zorgzaamheid en treffende parallellen tillen THIRD ACT uit boven het eigenlijk voor de hand liggende vertrekpunt.
Wat uitvergroot en surreëel op het podium plaatsgrijpt, heeft roots in de realiteit, die enkel film zo minutieus kan aanreiken." Filmmagie

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Een film van Lotte Stoops & Mieke Struyve / 2019 

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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.

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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.

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On january 2nd 2019, Louis Tobback said goodbye to the mayorship of Leuven after 24 years of service. It's time to look back on a long career that doesn't only limit itself to Leuven. A career that sometimes feels like a thriller, sometimes like a drama, but a career that is permeated most of all by an incredible indignation for everything that goes wrong in our society. Journalists, political allies and opponents and acquaintances look back on a political career path that has been determining for the Belgian post-war history.

Louis Tobback: De Gave van de Verontwaardiging is a beautiful hommage, made on behalf of Curieus Vlaams-Brabant vzw. Director Matthias Therry interviewed Frank Vandenbroucke, Walter Pauli, Mark Eyskens, Johan Vande Lanotte, Karin Jiroflée, and many others.

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After 2 decades of blood, sweat and tears it's finally time: Robbe de Hert presents 'Hollywood aan de Schelde', his long awaited documentary about the history of Flemish film.

Two years ago, the project seemed as good as dead, but after a crowdfunding campaign, the 'Robbe de Hert Benefietavond' in the Arenbergschouwburg and the support of Sven Gatz and the city of Antwerp, Robbe and his crew could get back to work. Over the years they have interviewed a number of important personalities in the filmworld: new generations such as Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, established values such as Erik Van Looy and Jan Verheyen, but also legends long past such as Hugo Claus, Bobbejaan Schoepen and André Delvaux. These interviews are alternated by unique archive images, fragments from nearly 100 years of Flemish films and recordings from filmsets and premiers. 'Hollywood aan de Schelde' brings the impressive story of the Flemish movie history, narrated by Michaël Pas: from succesful neighborhood theatres about the first Flemish films to the stories of succes of Jan Verheyen, Stijn Coninx and Lukas Dhont.

A film by Robbe de Hert / 2018 / 1u59

With contributions of Jan Verheyen, Frank Van Passel, Erik Van Looy, Koen De Bouw, Hugo Claus, Hilde Van Mieghem, Felix Van Groeningen, Johan Leysen, Sarah de Roo, Patrice Toye, Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah and many others. 

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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

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Filmmaker Daniël Lambo grew up in the asbestos of Eternit in Kapelle-op-den-Bos. The respected company provided employment and wealth in the region, Daniël's father was a worker and union man in the factory. When the first victims appear, very few people take a stand against the company. Neither does Daniël's father. Daniël wants to know why and starts an investigation. Even though asbestos has been prohibited in Belgium since 1998, this harmful substance does not completely belong to the past. His research brings him to a vllage in Central-India, where a daughter company of Eternit has produced asbestos on a big scale until 2002. the area now is one of the largest asbestos dumps in the world. Family members from victims in Belgium are incensed by these practices and are assisting the victims in India in their battle for justice and a clean environment. Their dream is a worldwide ban for asbestos, but in order to do that, they will have to take on the powerful asbestos industry.

‘Ademloos’ tells a David versus Goliath story that departs from our Flemish backyard but has tentacles that reach to the far regions of India. The film shows how brave individuals take on the battle against a world industry that has thousands of deaths on its conscience, but doesn't want to account for it. 

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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

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Unfortunately, people with an intellectual disability are still looked at with pity. But just like anyone else, they have feelings and moods that can clash. They have their own thoughts, desires and opinions; their own lives. In a poetic black and white portrait, Nadina, Sofie, Sam, Quan, Mathias and Jessica let us take a look into their thoughts and emotions.

They are living together in a Care Center for people with intellectual disabilities. Sofie can't do very much, but when she likes (or doesn't like) something she clearly shows it. Mathias has autism spectrum disorder and even though it is nog easy for him to understand social interactions, he makes people happy by remembering their birthdays. Nadine, who's got Down's Syndrome, starts to suffer from dementia. Sam expresses his feelings through music. Quan was born in China and hopes he can go back there one day. And Jessica struggles to combine work, horseback riding and a relationship. Sad, angry, afraid and happy. While they are unravelling their feelings, they teach us about the world, en mostly: about ourselves. Looking is allowed (but we'd rather you don't stare)!

A movie by Klara Van Es / 2018 / 80 min.
With music by Jef Neve 

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Kowlier, Buyse and DJ 4T4; three names that have been resonating for 20 years on the firmament of Flemish hiphop and rap under the name of 't Hof van Commerce. But who is 't Hof van Commerce?

‘Wien is ’t Hof van Commerce’ is a dashing rollercoaster filled with music and visual mash-ups over two decades of 't Hof. The same wit and self-relativism that has been typical for the band for years is a common thread throughout the film. With twenty years of 't Hof van Commerce, it needs a throwback, with (mostly) serious and documentary worthy additions of Wim Willaert, Wim Opbrouck, Wannes Cappelle, Discobar Galaxie, Bent Van Looy, Bruno Vandenbroecke, Eddy Merckx, Coely, and many other big and less big fans and companions of 't Hof. 'Wien is 't Hof van Commerce' is a rousing trip that catapults you through twenty years of Flemish hiphop and showbizz.   

’t Hof van Commerce is a complemantary three man band, but this film is made by DJ4T4, a.k.a. Kristof Michiels. As DJ behind the two MC's, he has formed 't Hof and provided it with sound for two decades. Michiels is an excellent entertainer and is doing that now with 'Wien is 't Hof van Commerce' which he describes himself as an 'audiovisual party'.

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A film by Kristof Michiels | 2018 

With: Flip Kowlier, Serge Buyse, Kristof Michiels, Wim Opbrouck, Wim Willaert, Wannes Capelle, Discobar Galaxie, Bent Van Looy, Bruno Vandenbroecke, Luc Waegeman, Jef Neve, De Mens, Otto-Jan Ham, Stijn Vandevoorde, Marcel Vanthilt, Gabriel Rios, a.o.  

Extra's: All clips from 't Hof van Commerce + Concert '20 jaar 't Hof van Commerce' @ AB (10.05.2018) 

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In this Belgian co-production, Raoul Peck departs from an unfinished novel of African-American writer James Baldwin for a trip throughout black history that connects the civil rights movement from the sixties to the current #BlackLivesMatter. The text, written in 1979, is, unfortunately, still very topical and talks about a racism that is rooted much deeper, a fundamental feeling where people do not want to accept others in their humanity. The movie is a striking statement based on archive images, film fragments and topical news images that are being talked together by the invocatory voice of Samuel L. Jackson.

Raoul Peck / 2017 / 93 min.

Dialogues: English
Subtitles: Dutch, French
With the voice of : Samuel L. Jackson
French dub : JoeyStarr

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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.

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Shadow World reveals the shocking realities of the global arms trade - the only business that counts its profits in billions and its losses in human lives.

Directed by Johan Grimonprez (“dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y”) and in part based on Corruption Watch UK founder Andrew Feinstein’s globally acclaimed book The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade, the film reveals how the international trade in weapons – with the complicity of governments and intelligence agencies, investigative and prosecutorial bodies, weapons manufacturers, dealers and agents – fosters corruption, determines economic and foreign policies, undermines democracy and creates widespread suffering.

The film unravels a number of the world’s largest and most corrupt arms deals through those involved in perpetrating and investigating them. It illustrates why this trade accounts for almost 40% of all corruption in global trade, and how it operates in a parallel legal universe, in which the national security elite who drive it are seldom prosecuted for their often illegal actions. Shadow World posits alternatives through the experience of a peace activist and war correspondent, as well as through the voice of Eduardo Galeano who contributed selections from his stories for the film.

Ultimately Shadow World reveals the real costs of war, the way the arms trade drives it, how weapons of war are turned against citizens of liberal democracies and how the trade decreases rather than enhances security for us all. In shedding light on how our realities are being constructed, the film offers a way for audiences to see through this horror, in the hopes of creating a better future.

https://shadowworldfilm.com/

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How do you build a home in a place called nowhere?

Kakuma refugee camp, built in the middle of the Turkana desert (Kenya), is the fastest growing city in the region. Many of its new arrivals are children sent out of conflict zones by their parents. Against all odds, these children grab all opportunities in the camp to rebuild their life. While waiting for her mother to return from South Sudan, Nyakong (8) starts to go to school. Slowly she creates a new home in the camp. At the age of 17, teenagers like Claude and Khadijo consequently compete for international scholarships, get a job, even build their own house.

Filmmaker Lieven Corthouts decided to stay in one of the toughest places on earth and make this camp his home. While filming his friends for more than 4 years, he unveils the accomplishments of these strong, smart children and the true dynamics of a refugee camp. Can Kakuma really offer a future? Or is it just a waiting room, where the only option is to plan your journey to Europe?

http://theinvisiblecitykakuma.com/

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a documentary film by Ibbe Daniëls and Koen Vidal, in coproduction with VRT-Canvas and Casa Kafka Pictures, Supported by the Flanders Audiovisual Fund, the Belgian Development Cooperation, le centre du Cinéma de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles et de VOO.

Serge Kakudji is a twenty-year-old Congolese opera singer, fighting for his ambitions in Western Europe. Kakudji is the first African to sing arias in the predominately white world of opera music.
That alone makes him unique. Still, he seems to hold his own in our harsh and lonesome reality. Moreso, as the first African ever he stands on the verge of a tremendous international career in opera music. This film tells the story of a man bridging the gap between Europe and Africa.

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In early 2014, an Ebola epidemic broke out in Guinea. The highly contagious and extremely deadly virus quickly spread along the West Coast of Africa. "Affliction" takes us into Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and shows us how the virus rapidly spread throughout the area starting from 'patient zero'. Patients, village leaders, local and international aid workers testify about the fear and exclusion, about superstition and stigma, about life in quarantine, the toll it takes on the nursing staff and the lack of interest of the international community. Those who overcome the disease often face a difficult return to everyday reality.

"Affliction" is a gripping story about fear and frustration, stigma and disbelief, about sadness but also relief, courage and strength.

Peter Casaer | 2015 | 1h10

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On the occasion of DOCVILLE, Dalton releases an offer that can't be missed: a package of 12 recent Flemish documentary films, all released in stylish digipacks. A beautiful overview of the best of the field in full bloom. The package contains: No Man is an Island (Tim De Keersmaecker) Elephant's Dream (Kristof Bilsen) What About Eric? (Lennart Stuyck en Ruben Vermeersch) De Koning van de Mont Ventoux (Fons Feyaerts) Feel My Love (Griet teck) Junior (Sien Versteyhe) 9999 (Ellen Vermeulen) Desert Haze (Sofie Benoot) Thank God It's Friday (Jan Beddegenoodts en Niel Iwens) OdysSea (Jimmy Kets) Rêve Kakudji (Ibbe Daniëls) Behind the Redwood Curtain (Liesbeth De Ceulaer).

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