De helaasheid der dingen (2009)

Director:

Felix Van Groeningen

Writers:

Christophe Dirickx (writer)
Felix Van Groeningen (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

9 April 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

13-year-old Gunther Strobbe grows up surrounded by alcohol, trash and his completely useless father and uncles. Slowly but surely, he's being prepared for the same hapless life. Can he defy his destiny? |

Plot Keywords:

Childbirth | Father Son Relationship | Alcoholic | Author | Male Full Frontal Nudity

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Kenneth Vanbaeden	...	Kleine Gunther
Valentijn Dhaenens	...	Gunther
Koen De Graeve	...	Celle
Wouter Hendrickx	...	Petrol
Johan Heldenbergh	...	Breejen
Bert Haelvoet	...	Koen
Gilda De Bal	...	Meetje
Natali Broods	...	Rosie
Pauline Grossen	...	Sylvie
Sofie Palmers	...	Vriendin Gunther
Guy Dermul	...	Directeur school
Jos Geens	...	André
Robbie Cleiren	...	Deurwaarder
Sara De Bosschere	...	Nele Fockedey
Wout Kelchtermans	...	Kleine Franky
Yves Degryse	...	Franky
Lynn Van Royen	...	Rostje
Ehsan Hemat	...	Sawasj
Sachli Gholamalizad	...	Mehti
Katrien Deklerq	...	Moeder Gunther
Sten Van Gestel	...	Zoontje Gunther
Frans Van de Winckel	...	Duivenmelker
Bernadette Damman	...	Cafébazin
Catty Cooreman	...	Dwerg #1
Candy Daniëls	...	Dwerg #2
Marie Koop	...	Vroedvrouw
Roos Van Vlaenderen	...	Verpleegster
Koen Bliki	...	Man van tante Rosie
Hendrik Van Doorn	...	Leraar Wiskunde
Wim Verstraeten	...	Leraar Latijn
Theo De Leeuw	...	Omer van de Liars Pub
Steven De Leeneer	...	Presentator WK Drinken
Charlotte Vandermeersch	...	Konijn
Leon Boel	...	Verkoper Markt
Steven Van Herreweghe	...	Frietzak #1
Rick Wiessenhaan	...	Frietzak #2 (as Ricky Wiessenhaan)
Charel Fabry	...	Frietzak #3
Jan Tillen	...	Frietzak #4
Lobke Leirens	...	Sletje #1
Stefanie Dedecker	...	Sletje #2
Tatiana Huype	...	Sletje #3
Hilde van Nest	...	Sletje #4
Veerle van Wevermael	...	Sletje #5
Maike D'Haene	...	Sletje #6
Gust Vermeir	...	Baby #1
Adam Gydé	...	Baby #2
Thomas Van der Heyden	...	Baby #3
Jurgen Axxelberghs	...	Naaktfietser
Alfons De Loerde	...	Naaktfietser
Sam Dewilde	...	Naaktfietser
Thomas Dhanens	...	Naaktfietser (as Thomas Dhaenens)
Antoine Janssens	...	Naaktfietser
Werner Oklis	...	Naaktfietser
Sean Lybeer	...	Naaktfietser
Jean-Pierre Wesemael	...	Naaktfietser
Tom Audenaert	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Glenn Bollen	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Philippe Cornelis	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Thomas de Boever	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Davy De Meyer	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Ignace De Vulder	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Christophe Dirickx	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Ivan Haelvoet	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Stefan Haelvoet	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Nico Leunen	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Carine Stevens	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Marnie Van den Branden	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Peter Van De Velde	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Roland van Paepegem	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Rudi Vermessen	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk
Kim Woolky	...	Deelnemer Wereldkampioenschap Drinken & ronde Van Frankrijk

Directed by
Felix Van Groeningen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christophe Dirickx		writer
Felix Van Groeningen		writer
Dimitri Verhulst		novel

Produced by
Jeroen Beker	....	co-producer
Dirk Impens	....	producer
Frans van Gestel	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jef Neve

Cinematography by
Ruben Impens

Film Editing by
Nico Leunen

Art Direction by
Kurt Rigolle

Production Management
Griet Meukens	....	post-production supervisor
Laurette Schillings	....	production supervisor: NL

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sofie Tusschans	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Lies Decoster	....	set dresser
Chris Lievens	....	property master

Sound Department
Jan Deca	....	sound
Paul Gies	....	sound editor
Nico Leunen	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marc Lizier	....	sound editor
Vladimir Rakic	....	sound effects editor
Michel Schöpping	....	sound designer
Michel Schöpping	....	sound re-recording mixer
Olivier Thys	....	foley artist
Joeri Verspecht	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Laurens Bekaert	....	digital compositor
Dimitri Breidenbach	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Nicolas de Pruyssenaere	....	stunt performer
Rick Wiessenhaan	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Laurens De Grande	....	electrician
Gaetan De Poorter	....	second assistant camera
Jan Rubens	....	Steadicam operator
Ton Vorselaars	....	electrician

Casting Department
Eva Cools	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Peter Bernaers	....	colorist
Nathalie Cools	....	assistant editor
Mathieu Depuydt	....	post-production assistant
Veerle Zeelmaekers	....	colorist

Other crew
Jan De Coninck	....	film printing
Ab van Overbeeke	....	location manager
Lieven Vanhove	....	digital film mastering

Production Companies

• Favourite Films NV
• IDTV Film

Distributors

• Evokative Films (2010) (Canada) (all media)
• IFA (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• NeoClassics Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Polyfilm Verleih (2011) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Against Gravity (2010) (Poland) (all media)
• Bir Film (2010) (Turkey) (all media) (limited)
• Camino Filmverleih (2010) (Germany) (all media)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Belgium) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Athalys  camera equipment provided by
• Warnier Studio Amsterdam  dolby mastering
• Warnier Studio Amsterdam  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

"The Misfortunates" - International (English title) (imdb display title)
"The Shittiness of Things" - USA (informal English alternative title)
"Çölde Kutup Ayisi" - Turkey (Turkish title) (imdb display title)
"Akireta nichijô" - Japan (festival title)
"Boso, ale na rowerze" - Poland (imdb display title)
"Die Beschissenheit der Dinge" - Germany (imdb display title)
"La lamentabilidad de las cosas" - Argentina (festival title)
"La merditude des choses" - France (imdb display title)
"La vitalidad de los afectos" - Argentina (imdb display title)
"La volubilidad de los afectos" - Uruguay (imdb display title)
"Szarul állnak a dolgok" - Hungary (imdb display title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:III | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Argentina:16

Company:

Favourite Films NV

Trivia:

The official Belgian submission for the 2010 Academy Awards.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the drinking games you see beer glasses from the brand Jupiler. These show the new logo which wasn't released before 2005.

The Misfortunates

The Misfortunates was a 2009 release at Cannes, and it is based on a novel by Dimitri Verhulst. It is a startling, rowdy piece that wedges in more authenticity and excitement than most American releases we see at the multiplexes. It's a coming-of-age story that works, because the people involved feel connected to the material. In other words, director Felix Van Groeningen has made a film that isn't just entertaining; it's genuine, as well. He avoids simplifying the tone of his work, and the result is an engaging but often shocking experience.

The plot revolves around Gunther Strobbe (played in his younger years by Kenneth Vanbaeden, and Valentijn Dhaenens as an adult). Instead of intently studying Gunther as a character, the story investigates his environment and, most importantly, his family. Within the first few minutes of the film, the audience is made aware of the bizarreness they are about to be a part of. In a scene involving some drunken cross-dressing, Groeningen uses jump-cuts and seemingly random splices of black-and-white footage. The ideas explored in the picture are disorienting, so the storytelling is equally unusual.

The energy of the introductory scenes is maintained throughout, and that is one of the biggest strong points in this film. The philosophy of the Strobbes is sometimes sickening, but there is enough sweetness and humanity to connect with the audience. The family draws a parallel between their history and Roy Orbison's career; when Orbison has a musical comeback, it is a sign that there are great things to come for the Strobbes.

For every offbeat nostalgic moment, there are five that depict alcohol abuse and sexual depravity. This isn't a one-dimensional portrait, and Groeningen uses the pleasant elements of the movie to ease into the uglier ones. In one offsetting scene, Gunther's father orders him to expose his penis to prove that he is indeed his son. Later on in the film, the protagonist's brother tells him that "real life starts once you have a good f--k." This is an unflinching examination of a group of people, and that's what makes it special and effective. The plot is difficult to summarize, because this isn't a film that is based around formulaic storytelling. It's a series of extreme events that brought one character from boyhood into adulthood.

Groeningen has made a beautiful film. Not "beautiful" in the sense that it's warm and inviting and pretty. It's evocative and sharply photographed and true. It's sometimes difficult to look at, but it's even more difficult to turn away.