Belgium’s ‘Broken Circle Breakdown’ Wins Europa Cinemas Label Prize at the Berlinale

Belgian film “The Broken Circle Breakdown” has won the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European Film in the Berlinale’s Panorama section. It is directed by Felix van Groeningen, and centers on the stormy relationship between a bluegrass musician and a tattoo artist. Synopsis below.

The film will now receive support from the Europa Cinemas Network, with incentives to theatrical exhibitors to extend its run on screens.

It is co-written by van Groeningen and Carl Joos, and stars Jonah Heldenbergh, Veerle Baetens and Nell Cattrysse.

Didier and Elise’s relationship is stormy and passionate; it’s love at first sight. Didier plays the banjo in a bluegrass band, lives in a caravan in the Belgian countryside and idolises America as the ‘land of the free’. Elise owns her own tattoo parlour. Her body is plastered with images – little mementos of past lovers whose names have been carefully covered up by new tattoos. Before long their two lives are closely intertwined. Elise sings in Didier’s band and they soon have a daughter together, little Maybelle, with whom they move into a lovingly if unconventionally restored country house. This film accompanies Elise and Didier on their rollercoaster ride through life; through days filled with their love of music and their mutual passion.

UK director Sally El Hosaini’s “My Brother the Devil” won the prize at last year’s Berlinale.