King of the Belgians
During a state visit to Turkey, Nicholas III, King of the Belgians, receives a disastrous message which means he has to return at once to Brussels with his entourage. However, because of a solar storm, the Turks refuse to let him go, afraid their future membership of the EU will be threatened. The documentary maker commissioned by the queen to capture the vitality and smile of the king conceives a way out. As the royal retinue crosses the Balkans in a rickety bus followed by the Turkish secret service, during the breaks Nicolas stands gazes into the distance like a visionary and works on a speech to explain to the Belgians what a formidable statesman lives at 1, Place des Palais in Brussels.
Makers Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth certainly haven’t lost their urge to travel, but after the far corners of Mongolia for Khadak (2006) and the Andes in Altiplano (2009), they found the backdrop for this comic drama almost on their doorstep. Winner KNF Award IFFR 2017.
Film details
- Country of production
- Belgium
- Year
- 2016
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2017
- Length
- 94"
- Medium/Format
- DCP
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