Hop

As the first viewer to comment on this film from the United States, let me say I found this film highly entertaining. I apologise for my ignorance on French-Flemish relations in Belgium, but having viewed "Hop" without that baggage (but with subtitles), I can report that the film is beautifully acted and photographed. Lead Kalomba Mboyi is an instant star playing the resourceful and understatedly brilliant Justin. Strong pacing, surprises, and even suspense punctuate a story that proceeds from the mundane to the almost unbelievable. I did not recognize this as an overtly political film, but as smooth entertainment. My fellow Americans will probably enjoy "Hop" more than the Belgian commentators seem to have.

I was thoroughly entertained by the story, and impressed by the beautiful look of the film. The director obviously took great care to give us powerful images that were truly works of art in themselves, in my opinion. So, to learn that it was shot with video rather than film truly amazed me. I also found the story to be well crafted, with a nice balance of comedy and drama. The actors were very believable, and I feel that Kalomba Mboyi, who played Justin, did a superb job, as did Jan Decleir, who played Frans. I highly recommend the movie for a refreshing change from the kind of films that most of us normally see. Hats off to Mongrel Media for bringing us these good quality independent films!

This film has it all, politics, football, history, action, quirky characters and an incredibly clever plot. The inventiveness of some of the plot lines are truly unique. I have never seen another film like it.

I am a French teacher and I love to see how the warmth of the relationships and the issues of illegal immigrants lead my students into some great debates. I was thrown off at the beginning by the German lessons, but it all makes sense in the end. Some of the scenes are laugh out loud funny, you can't help but get involved.

I won't spoil the ending by explaining the meaning of Le Hop, but it is an important life lesson that I have never forgotten.

France had Vidocq, the States had Attack Of The Clones and now Belgium has Hop. Thanks to Sony en Barco, director Standaert got his money to make his debut feature, only if he made it digitally! Well, the image is great, but the story is weak. This movie is about a young African kid who lives in Brussels with his father after they fled from Burundi, where their mother/wife was killed (or just died?). After an incident with their neightbours, they have to flee again. They are living in Belgium illegally and they know what that means. The father gets caught, but the young kid escapes and finds shelter at the home of an anarchist writer (Jan Decleir, from Daens and Character). To cut a long story short: the fathers gets send to Congo (yes, not to Burundi) and the writer and the kid threaten to blow up a famous Belgian landmark. (the kid already tried to blow up the Atomium, but the anarchist could prevent him doing so) The black and white photography is great, but that's the only thing great about this movie. The acting is soso, the story is ridiculous and the director blew the chance of showing the world that Flemish and French are equal in Belgium. They aren't of course, but still, you see two briljant Flemish actors who play Flemish characters and who talk French all the time!

I don't usually get a chance to go to film festivals, but i am so glad I went to see HOP. This is an excellent film and a refreshing change to the ones Hollywood likes to churn out.

I knew nothing about this movie when I went into the theatre, but I loved it. It was funny, and not slapstick or any of that stupid 'Dumb and Dumber' or 'American Pie' crap. It was genuinely funny. I don't know why people keep saying that the story line was terrible, the ending was predictable, yes, but isn't that true with almost all Hollywood movies? Hmmm?

You gotta love the characters. They are so real, and the director and screenwriter were quite clever in revealing a lot of their history (like between Gerda) without making it ham-handed and melodramatic. The acting was very good.

I think its the pastoral and simple touch to the film. It still has a bit of that light quality, and yet some poignancy to its make. It is definitely a film worth watching and your only concern will be actually finding a theatre that will screen it.