Despite being released in its native Belgium in 2012, The Broken Circle Breakdown is making the rounds in the run up to the Oscars, where hopes are it will take the prize for Best Foreign Film (and further add to its impressive list of accolades). The story is of the life Didier and Elise, a couple from Ghent, Belgium, and follows 7 years of their lives through their meeting, falling in love, their daughter, Maybelle, and beyond – all to the integral soundtrack of the couple’s bluegrass band. We join the non-linear narrative in the hospital, with the whole family as Maybelle is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.
The Broken Circle Breakdown doesn’t set out to create a groundbreaking original story or visual experience. Instead, the director (Felix Van Groeningen) weaves a bittersweet story of a young couple, their loves and their trials through their life. At no point will you feel like you’ve seen something truly unique, but at the same time the way its told with its narrative style and beautifully nuanced performances will carry you along this most personal of tales. The film dances a duet between using the bluegrass music as soundtrack, but also as a thread for you to follow; it feels like a visual telling of a classic bluegrass song. Maybe that’s why it works so well.
There are aspects that are troubled, from Didier’s anti-religious spell and the contextualisation of the September 11th attacks on the TV, but they are logical developments in the story and characters, even if they don’t flow as freely into the rhythm as they should. I truly hope this film picks up the awards it is due. It is beautifully written and acted tale that will truly speak to your heart. You’ll experience moments that will bring a gentle smile to your face, that’ll set your heart racing, and it’ll break your heart. You need to see this movie.
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