A bawdy, boisterous, but heartfelt comedy about the perils of growing up in a proudly dysfunctional Belgian family. “Full of hilarity, horror and heartbreak.” — Time Out NY
A bawdy, heartfelt glimpse into a proudly dysfunctional Belgium family... careens with madcap hilarity.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2010
The Misfortunates 2009
De helaasheid der dingen
A bawdy, boisterous, but heartfelt comedy about growing up in a proudly dysfunctional family.
“Your clothes will practically reek of stale cigarette smoke, spilled beer and sausages after spending time with the Strobbes, a tight-knit Belgian clan of dimwits who routinely break furniture while slurring their way through filthy drinking songs. Coming of age in the late 80s, mulleted 13-year-old Gunther Strobbe is following a path of rabble-rousing courtesy of his father and three uncles. All of his mentors are alcoholic womanizers living under their suffering mother’s roof – as real jobs might get in the way of their nude cycling contests, drag parties and Guinness Book-qualifying ale pounding. Adapted from Dimitri Verhulst’s semi-autobiographical novel with a flair that recalls the squalor-and-dazzle visuals of Trainspotting, Felix van Groeningen’s highly entertaining tale is full of hilarity, horror and heartbreak.” — Aaron Hillis, Time Out NY