(Belgium/Netherlands, 122 min.) In Flemish and English with English subtitles
This is the story of Elise and Didier. She has her own tattoo shop, he plays the banjo in a band. It is love at first sight, in spite of major differences. He talks, she listens. He is a dedicated atheist, although at the same time a naïve romantic. Their happiness is complete after their little girl Maybelle is born. "An immaculately observed, desperately moving story of love, loss, and bluegrass music, it's easy to see why Belgian film "The Broken Circle Breakdown" came to the Karlovy Vary Film Festival trailing awards: Best Actress and Best Screenplay from Tribeca and the Audience Award and the Europa Cinemas Award from Berlin. While Felix von Groeningen's film, which centers around a couple whose child is diagnosed with cancer, could easily have strayed into maudlin territory, the deft, non-chronological structure and the constantly surprising, beautiful performances…" The Playlist