C0df4b08 c5b6 414c 8e18 e867507851af

Dimitri Verhulst

Waarom Wettelen

Director Dimitri Verhulst Composer Peter Vermeersch Cast Peter Van den Begin, Hilde Heijnen, Tom Vermeir, Dominique Van Malder, Bert Haelvoet, Marijke Pinoy
Edition 2024
105' - 2024 - Drama, Comedy - Format: DCP - Dialogue: Dutch
After previously helping to adapt his own novels for the big screen - leading him to Cannes for The Misfortunates, acclaimed Belgian author Dimitri Verhulst now makes his debut as a director, not losing a single touch of his characteristic humour in the process. The Weeping Walk is a sly, often bone dry, absurdist comedy that kicks-off with an unexpected final request at a funeral, turning the last salute to Christine into a procession along the countryside. Together with relatives, alleged friends, and real ones, her bewildered husband and children must reach the resting place of her choice: the town of Wettelen. Verhulst's road trip of straight-faced Kaurismäki-like misfits features oneliners aplenty and leads us on a fascinating journey where surprising truths come to light.
17
Thursday October
09:00 Kinepolis 6 Subtitles: Dutch - French
19
Saturday October
+ Guest
19:45 Kinepolis 5 Subtitles: Nederlands - Frans
19
Saturday October
+ Guest
20:00 Kinepolis 3 Subtitles: Dutch - French

Officiële slotceremonie en film | FILM + RECEPTIE

19
Saturday October
22:00 Kinepolis 4 Subtitles: Dutch - French
20
Sunday October
17:00 Kinepolis 3 Subtitles: English

Novelist Dimitri Verhulst takes along his strange and dry-wit humour to the big screen.

Welcome to the universe of Dimitri Verhulst, where bald priests stand up for the weak - especially the "lactose-sensitive", where undertakers drunk-drive their hearse, and where a suggestive local dance is performed without hesitation at a lesbian wedding. Of course, it should come as no surprise that the acclaimed author of Flemish bestsellers The Misfortunates, Problemski Hotel and Bechamel Mucho brings along his strange and dryly black-comical situations to the big screen. But Verhulst almost casually stumbled into the director's chair for the first time: "I sat with this story in my head for a long time and finally came to the realisation that film is the only way to get it told." In his directorial debut, we meet a motley group of relatives and friends at Christine's funeral. In church, someone reminisces about that "legendary diarrhea attack in Tunisia", and at the cemetery, Peter Van Den Begin asks if his deceased wife could be moved somewhat to the right, "because that's where she always slept". Suddenly, Christine's foster son shows up, and her notary follows shortly after that, announcing that Christine wishes to be buried in Wettelen. "A typo?", asks one the daughters - not aware of the existence of any town called that way. Nobody knows why she wants to be laid to rest here, but soon the troupe sets off for Wettelen - on foot behind the hearse. The funeral procession passes rural Flanders, including bike races, empty churches and a demolished circus. Along the way, it turns out that no one really knew Christine, or each other.
Even in this art form - new to him - Verhulst allows hit literary talent to shine through. Despite numerous absurd one-liners, mischievous humour and straight-faced Aki Kaurismäki-like emotions, there is something truly recognisable in Verhulst's world. While family secrets are unearthed like corpses by a grave digger, we also learn that the way to one's heart doesn't go through the stomach, but the bowels.

Image gallery

Dcc1b4e8 e70e 4e2c a4a2 2d334e22cb78
2c17bee9 1bb2 49a2 abf9 0249b940d11e
A1d60da9 c9d5 4f8c 9815 af38100f03fb
3ad1f699 ee1a 4557 bc7b f6e0961d33cb
B18a205c 0705 47c7 802f 352ab2db245c
6b8adfee a82d 434a 9244 d638c4306ae9
Ebd4f418 a930 4c14 a470 d871df60a4d5
C0df4b08 c5b6 414c 8e18 e867507851af
0dd4831e 7698 48a5 bdcb 451b55487655
3a9bb0d1 8b07 4c9c 957c 2033336c78b2
5f86e9ce 6482 44f2 a7e5 13039b0c00f1

Credits

Directors

Dimitri Verhulst

Composers

Peter Vermeersch

Cast

Peter Van den Begin, Hilde Heijnen, Tom Vermeir, Dominique Van Malder, Bert Haelvoet, Marijke Pinoy

Scenario

Dimitri Verhulst

Director of Photography

Menno Mans

Editors

Manu Van Hove

Producers

Eurydice Gysel, Koen Mortier

Production studios

CZAR

Distributor

Kinepolis Film Distribution

More info

Dialogue

Dutch

Countries of production

Belgium

Year

2024

Filmography

Dimitri Verhulst
Waarom Wettelen (2024)

Technical Specs

Format
DCP