C'est arrivé près de chez vous

  • 95'
  • Belgium
  • 1992
Seldom has a first feature from a competely unknown trio attained such cult status as C'est arrivé près de chez vous. After its first screening in Cannes, the film has embarked on a lap of honour of the international festivals, leaving a stunned audience in its wake. After C'est arrivé près de chez vous, the concept of black humour has acquired a new and grimmer meaning.While the film is about a 'professional' lust murderer, its shock effect is largely to be found in the very vital and realistic form. The three directors also play in the film; Benoît Poelvoorde plays the important role of the murderer and the other two more or less play themselves as a team of reporters making a documentary about the murderer. Poelvoorde's acting is breathtaking; with a convincing and natural arrogance he plays straight to the camera, which stick to him like a limpet. The black & white footage increases the documentary effect, which is however never completely convincing because of the weirder-than-weirdness.Konrad Maquestieau write in Andere Sinema: 'It isn't really about a film crew making a report about a murderer, but about a murderer who makes a film'. The film goes too far for some professional viewers. In an article in Sight & Sound, B. Ruby Rich spoke out against the 'snuff-film violence with which it slams its viewers'. But no critic could deny that it is a very powerful film. Maquestieau again: 'The power of the film is in the short-circuiting of two elements which seldom meet: cruelty and poetry'.
Directors
Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel
Country of production
Belgium
Year
1992
Festival Edition
IFFR 1993
Length
95'
Medium
35mm
Language
French
Producer
Les Artistes Anonymes
Sales
World Marketing Film
Local Distributor
Universal Pictures Benelux
Directors
Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel
Country of production
Belgium
Year
1992
Festival Edition
IFFR 1993
Length
95'
Medium
35mm
Language
French
Producer
Les Artistes Anonymes
Sales
World Marketing Film
Local Distributor
Universal Pictures Benelux