I think Felix van Groeningen is a really underrated writer and director. This is the third film of his I’ve seen after Beautiful Boy (2018) and the Eight Mountains (2022), and they all have such warmth, hope and beauty under a tale of loss and tragedy.
The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012) centres on a relationship between Elise (Veerle Baetens) and Didier (Johan Heldenbergh) over seven years. A romantic connection is built in their first encounter, where Elise surprises Didier by taking the lead after being asked to sing in his band. There is a look of admiration on his face as he finds someone who can match him. This is a key strength of the film, capturing small details and allowing audiences to observe the romance unfold in real time. Despite this, it’s fair to say that the early relationship is primarily based on sex and raw attraction, and this happens to become their downfall.
The Broken Beautiful Circle is a film that has so much beauty. Long scenes explore the highs and lows of their relationship, and the cinematography links perfectly to themes of religion, nature and the afterlife. Live performances, and their shared love for bluegrass music features throughout and adds a real soul to the film.
A key theme for the film is religion. On the one hand Elise and Didier use religion to provide hope after a bereavement. They discuss how they can use their son’s inability to understand a birds death in their own life: ‘if you want to believe it, then you can’. There is also a beautiful flashback to them explaining how stars are born, which again they learn to cling onto. Many films overuse flashbacks / non-linear structures, but TBBC applies it perfectly, choosing select passages that have important emotional value.
However, like any Groeinger film, the beauty is paired with tragedy. Didier consistently cites religion as a barrier to abortion and stem cell research, and uses this as a way to explain his son’s death. This cumulates in a shocking speech towards the end. His performance is incredible, and even if his most angry and volatile moments there there always hurt and sadness flickering across the eyes.
I only have two critiques of this film. Firstly, the music was great, but I don’t think it lives up the emotional heights of comparable films such as Once (2006) or a Star is Born (2018). Secondly, I sometimes wish it stayed the heightened emotional moments for longer. Beautiful Boy (2016) adds a further layer by his jarring and volatile it becomes to audiences.
Overall, this is a fantastic film and perfect starting point for someone wanting to try a Groeningen film or Belgium cinema in general. It is beautiful, harrowing and ambitious in equal measure, and deserves more spotlight. 4.5/5.
I think Felix van Groeningen is a really underrated writer and director. This is the third film of his I’ve seen after Beautiful Boy (2018) and the Eight Mountains (2022), and they all have such warmth, hope and beauty under a tale of loss and tragedy.
The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012) centres on a relationship between Elise (Veerle Baetens) and Didier (Johan Heldenbergh) over seven years. A romantic connection is built in their first encounter, where Elise surprises Didier by taking the lead after being asked to sing in his band. There is a look of admiration on his face as he finds someone who can match him. This is a key strength of the film, capturing small details and allowing audiences to observe the romance unfold in real time. Despite this, it’s fair to say that the early relationship is primarily based on sex and raw attraction, and this happens to become their downfall.
The Broken Beautiful Circle is a film that has so much beauty. Long scenes explore the highs and lows of their relationship, and the cinematography links perfectly to themes of religion, nature and the afterlife. Live performances, and their shared love for bluegrass music features throughout and adds a real soul to the film.
A key theme for the film is religion. On the one hand Elise and Didier use religion to provide hope after a bereavement. They discuss how they can use their son’s inability to understand a birds death in their own life: ‘if you want to believe it, then you can’. There is also a beautiful flashback to them explaining how stars are born, which again they learn to cling onto. Many films overuse flashbacks / non-linear structures, but TBBC applies it perfectly, choosing select passages that have important emotional value.
However, like any Groeinger film, the beauty is paired with tragedy. Didier consistently cites religion as a barrier to abortion and stem cell research, and uses this as a way to explain his son’s death. This cumulates in a shocking speech towards the end. His performance is incredible, and even if his most angry and volatile moments there there always hurt and sadness flickering across the eyes.
I only have two critiques of this film. Firstly, the music was great, but I don’t think it lives up the emotional heights of comparable films such as Once (2006) or a Star is Born (2018). Secondly, I sometimes wish it stayed the heightened emotional moments for longer. Beautiful Boy (2016) adds a further layer by his jarring and volatile it becomes to audiences.
Overall, this is a fantastic film and perfect starting point for someone wanting to try a Groeningen film or Belgium cinema in general. It is beautiful, harrowing and ambitious in equal measure, and deserves more spotlight. 4.5/5.
