Belgian series 'Breendonk' premieres at Film Fest Gent

Breendonk tells the story of a young Antwerp couple, Elisabeth (Anne-Laure Vandeputte) and Rik (Jolan De Bouw), who are brutally torn apart halfway through the Second World War following a failed resistance operation. Elisabeth is forced into hiding, while Rik and his father Leon (Koen De Bouw) end up in the dreaded SS penal camp of Breendonk. To survive the brutal regime of terror, Rik and Leon form a secret alliance with guard Vaes (Kevin Janssens), a Flemish SS member who is increasingly questioning the choices he has made.

As the war wreaks havoc around them, the lives of Elisabeth, Rik, and Vaes become dangerously intertwined, forcing them to make choices that drag them into an increasingly perilous situation. Each of them deals with the horrific circumstances in their own way: do you fight or flee? How far will you go to survive? And how long can you simply stand by and watch?

Breendonk is a compelling prison drama set in war-torn Antwerp in 1942. It is a story about people forced to make choices under extreme pressure—choices with unforeseeable consequences—as well as a tale of unexpected alliances and the quest to remain loving in a world under duress.

The series will have its Belgian premiere at the 53rd edition of Film Fest Gent and will be available later this autumn on Streamz, VRT 1, and VRT MAX.