Over the past two decades, Belgian cinema, be it from Flanders or from the French speaking part of the country, has risen to prominence in the international filmmaking arena, boasting richly diverse films that consistently garner critical praise and worldwide anticipation. From the unsettling but still urgently relevant MAN BITES DOG which rocked the Cannes Film Festival in 1992 and the quirky and vibrant tale of identity mix-up in TOTO THE HERO, to the monumental saga of DAENS or the Oscar nominated EVERYBODY FAMOUS, the outstanding thrillers
MEMORY OF A KILLER and DOSSIER K, and the string of critically-lauded dramatic works by the brilliant filial duo Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (ROSETTA, THE SON, THE CHILD, LORNA’S SILENCE), to the gripping social drama ILLEGAL and this year’s impressive crime drama BULLHEAD, the Belgian film industry has proved its dexterity in tone and its originality in aesthetic.
Last year, the Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles, launched a monthly Belgian Film Series in partnership with the American Cinemathèque as a celebration of Belgium’s Presidency of the European Union in the second half on 2010. Thanks to the great success of the series, ‘Grit and Whimsy’ returns on a permanent basis starting April 2011. Each third Wednesday of the month is Belgian movie night at the American Cinemathèque in Santa Monica! Now on on Wednesday, September 21th, 2011 at 7:30 pm, Hitler in Hollywood will be screened at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403.
Hitler in Hollywood: Actress Maria de Medeiros, best known from her role in “Pulp Fiction”, is working on a documentary about movie star Micheline Presle whose career began in the 1930s. She discusses her subject with various directors until they hit upon the name Luis Aramcheck. Presle made a film with him in 1939 that never made it into theaters because of the war. Medeiros sets out on the trail of the lost movie, and her bio-doc becomes a thrilling investigation into European cinema’s forgotten past.
Directed by: Frédéric Sojcher.
Belgian Film Series screenings in Los Angeles is organized by the Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles, in cooperation with Flanders Image and Wallonie Bruxelles Images, with the support of E.L.M.A. (European Languages and Movies in America).