22 mei (2010)

Director:

Koen Mortier

Writer:

Koen Mortier

Release Date:

17 November 2010 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

How your life can change in the blink of an eye.

Plot:

A bomb explodes in a shopping mall. Sam the security agent tries to save the victims, but at the end he runs off. Later he encounters all the people he saved. They all think that somehow he is responsible for what happened.

Plot Keywords:

Grief | Innocence | Explosion | Guilt | Suicide Bomber

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Sam Louwyck	...	Sam
Titus De Voogdt	...	Nico Degeest
François Beukelaers	...	Salesman
Norman Baert	...	Norman
Gunter Lamoot	...	Gunter
Wim Willaert	...	Wim
Jan Hammenecker	...	Jan
Barbara Callewaert	...	Sandra Lauwaert
Sebastien Dewaele	...	Sebastien
Bernadette Damman	...	Homeless woman
Steffi Peeters	...	Steffi
Adida Clabaut	...	Daughter Sam
Tasio Azpillaga Camio	...	Son Wim
Tristan Versteven	...	Tristan
David Ameye	...	Friend steffi
Marsha Gordon	...	Mother Nico
Mireille Verboomen	...	Wife Jan
Jutta Huyge	...	Daughter Wim
Helga Nullens	...	Wife Wim

Directed by
Koen Mortier

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Koen Mortier

Produced by
Rebekka Garrido	....	co-producer
Eurydice Gysel	....	producer
Frank Hoeve	....	co-producer
Koen Mortier	....	producer
Michael Reuter	....	co-producer
Raymond van der Kaaij	....	co-producer
Ingrid Van Eig	....	line producer
René Vermeulen	....	assistant producer

Original Music by
The Bony King of Nowhere
Mike Gallagher

Cinematography by
Glynn Speeckaert

Film Editing by
Nico Leunen

Art Direction by
Geert Paredis

Costume Design by
Catherine Marchand

Makeup Department
Karijn van Brink	....	makeup artist
Saskia Verreycken	....	special makeup effects artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tomas Coppejans	....	second assistant director
Johan Seeuws	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Dries Cleiren	....	construction builder
Bieke Damen	....	property master
Kobe De Bontridder	....	construction builder
Steven De Koker	....	construction builder
Steffi De Koninck	....	set dresser
Stephanie Engels	....	construction builder
Toon Marïën	....	assistant art director
Sander Van Echelpoel	....	construction builder
Joris van Laere	....	construction builder
Peggy Verstraeten	....	set dresser
Bart Wouters	....	construction builder

Sound Department
Christian Conrad	....	sound designer
Luc Cuveele	....	sound
Lars Ginzel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Horstmann	....	dubbing stage engineer
Carsten Richter	....	foley artist
Dominik Schleier	....	supervising sound editor
Marcus Sujata	....	foley editor
Marcus Sujata	....	foley mixer
Lieven Verbraeken	....	boom operator
Geert Vlegels	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Roland Goddijn	....	special effects technician
Robert Seepers	....	special effects technician
Nick van Leeuwen	....	special effects technician
Edward Wiessenhaan	....	special effects foreman
Harrie Wiessenhaan	....	special effects supervisor
Rick Wiessenhaan	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Bart Barendregt	....	compositing
Kristof Luyckx	....	assistant compositor
Chris Mascarello	....	compositing
Tristan Salome	....	roto master
Ann Vandenbussche	....	compositing
James Vanderhaeghen	....	compositing
David Zaretti	....	compositing

Stunts
Nicolas de Pruyssenaere	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Walter Birkhoff	....	grip
Flip Bleekrode	....	phantom operator
Nicolas Boucart	....	grip
Jessica Champeaux	....	second unit
Laurens De Grande	....	electrician
Luc Frisson	....	first assistant camera
Benjamin Hautenauve	....	second unit
Joost Henderieckx	....	electrician
Tim Janssens	....	best boy
Julien Lambert	....	second assistant camera
Jan Lemmens	....	grip
Kurt Reybroeck	....	key grip
Pieke Schreuder	....	trainee
Francois Starr	....	phantom operator
Hatuey Suarez	....	grip
Roel Tanghe	....	additional electrician
Karina van den Berg	....	electrician
Dieter Van der Eecken	....	gaffer
Belle Van Dijk	....	vtr
Dieuwert Vandekerkhove	....	electrician
Jo Vermaercke	....	steadicam operator
Jo Voets	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Bernard Garant	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sophie Callaerts	....	wardrobe
Catherine Marchand	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Tom Denoyette	....	assistant editor
Joost Van Kerckhove	....	colorist
Ben Vandendaele	....	post-production assistant
Gregor Wille	....	post-production assistant

Transportation Department
Eric Trappeniers	....	quad driver

Other crew
René Vermeulen	....	production assistant

Thanks
Martin Dewitte	....	special thanks: fundraising

Production Companies

• CCCP
• IJswater Films
• Revolver Films (co-production)
• Ryva (co-production)

Distributors

• Cinéart (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Kinepolis Film Distribution (KFD) (2010) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Blaq Out (2011) (France) (DVD)
• Donau-Film (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twin Pics (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Tonstudio Hanse Warns  foley stage

Also Known As:

"22nd of May" - International (English title) (imdb display title)
"Soudain, le 22 mai" - France (imdb display title)

Country:

Belgium

Language:

Dutch | French

Color:

Color (35 mm version) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Australia:MA (2011)

Company:

CCCP

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Midnight Movie Review: 22nd of May (#2.52)" (2011)

Art-house cinema at its most extreme

This film doesn't have a plot to speak of, it has very little dialogue, it switches from reality to dreamlike sequences of subconscious or imagined events. Most of the time I was wondering what exactly I was watching, how I should interpret the images and what the film maker was trying to tell me.

The 'story' is about a security guard at a shopping center, who survives a bomb explosion and unravels the stories of the other witnesses and victims. The film starts off quite impressively: we see the guard leaving home for work, doing his job and panicking after the explosion. But after that the film slows down, becomes confusing and fails in engaging the viewer. I couldn't help thinking: where does all this nonsense lead us to? There are a few positive points. The locations are superb (we see mostly ugly and timeless cityscapes) and the cinematography is beautiful. And you could argue that this is an intriguing movie which invites the audience not to take everything immediately for granted. In this respect, some people might enjoy it. But I suspect this is a small group.