The Broken Circle Breakdown
The Broken Circle Breakdown (also known as Alabama Monroe) is a 2012 Belgian drama film directed by Felix van Groeningen with a screenplay by Carl Joos and van Groeningen. It is based on the stage play of the same name by Johan Heldenbergh and Mieke Dobbels.
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Carl Joos
Felix van Groeningen
The Broken Circle Breakdown
by Johan Heldenbergh
Mieke Dobbels
Dirk Impens
Frans van Gestel
Laurette Schillings
Arnold Heslenfeld
Nico Leunen
Bjorn Eriksson
Topkapi Films
Kinepolis Film Distribution
- 10 October 2012
111 minutes
Belgium
$6 million[1]
The film garnered critical acclaim and was selected as the Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards,[2] and was on the nominated shortlist.[3] The film was the winner of Best Foreign Film at the 39th César Awards.[4] It was the winner of the 2013 Lux Prize.[5]
Plot[edit]
The film is set in Ghent, in the Flemish Region of Belgium, and chronicles the lives of Didier (Johan Heldenbergh) and Elise (Veerle Baetens) over seven years as they fall in love through their passion for bluegrass music. Didier meets Elise in her tattoo parlour and invites her to the performance of his bluegrass band. They soon fall in love. When Didier discovers Elise has a wonderful voice, she joins their band as a singer. After a few months, Elise discovers she is unexpectedly pregnant. Even though it comes as a shock at first, the couple is happy. Their daughter Maybelle is born and for a few years, they live a happy life and have success with their band.
After her sixth birthday, Maybelle develops cancer and her health quickly deteriorates. She succumbs to it within a year. The death of Maybelle has a devastating effect on Didier and Elise's relationship and their lives. Didier focuses on scientism, especially after George W. Bush opposes embryonic stem cell research under pressure of creationists and the anti-abortion movement. Elise finds solace in spiritualism and reincarnation. The two grow further and further apart until Elise attempts suicide. She is rushed to the hospital but she is found braindead. Didier agrees to stop the artificial respiration. Finally the band plays a song around Elise's deathbed.
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
The Broken Circle Breakdown has an approval rating of 83% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 103 reviews, and an average rating of 7.30/10. The website's critical consensus states, "The Broken Circle Breakdown's reach occasionally exceeds its grasp, but overall, it's an intoxicating, finely wrought romance -- and one with a terrific soundtrack to boot".[9] It also has a score of 70 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[10]
Boyd van Hoeij of Variety wrote: "Sophisticated cutting brings out the story’s complex emotional undercurrents, though “Breakdown’s” less convincingly scripted second half sputters more often than it shines."[11]
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The non-linear structure works extremely well, making the drama a bracing emotional roller coaster of feel-good/feel-bad turns."[12]
The Norwegian bluegrass group, Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, cited the film as a major influence in their formation.[13]