Au-delà de Gibraltar

I saw this movie at the International Filmfestival of Flanders in Ghent and I was pleasantly surprised.

The best thing about this movie is that it is true and believable. This is life in Brussels. With its good and its bad moments. They even speak Flemish in one scene of the movie!!!! How odd is that for a French-speaking production. This movie should really get a theatrical release, at least in all the European countries.

It may look as a television production and it is not as controversial as La Haine, but it has its merits. It's gripping at moments, it makes you smile (the scene in the restaurant at the coast!) and also get angry at our society. But there is also hope and that's good, right?

I really would love to throw a ten-star to this one, as it has a brilliant feel to it. Basically, it follows a young Belgian of Moroccan origin as he tries unsuccessfully to find a place in society. Neither totally Arabic nor European, he falls for a cute Belgian girl and watches his friends spin out of control. It's a heartfelt portrayal of life for second-generation immigrants that many people can relate to.

Unfortunately, the directors chose mostly non-professional actors. At times (the family scenes) it works really well. Even the cops are real cops, apparently. But a lot of weight is being put on amateur shoulders in the more dramatic scenes, and I even found it hard following what the lead actor (the striking Mourad Maimuni) was saying.

So the overall feeling is one of vague disappointment. Good looking, perceptive, "real" but curiously lacking in impact.