Felix van Groeningen’s The Broken Circle Breakdown has been selected for Official Competition at the Tribeca International Film Festival (17 – 28 April) in New York. After its successful passage in Berlin, earning the film two prizes, the feature can now add another renowned festival to its slate.
The Broken Circle Breakdown is to receive its North American première in the fest’s World Narrative Competition, reflecting the universal power of film and storytelling and embodying the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema that Tribeca celebrates. Other features competing in the section include a.o. Sunlight Jr. starring Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon and Just a Sighwhich sees Emmanuelle Devos in the main lead.
After The Misfortunates, van Groeningen’s fourth feature is an emotional rollercoaster, full of music and passion. About how love can conquer fate, and sometimes not. While Elise owns her own tattoo parlour, Didier is a Flemish cowboy who plays the banjo in a band. They are as alike as day and night, yet they match perfectly and the birth of their daughter Maybelle makes their happiness complete. Until, at the age of six, the girl becomes seriously ill and they each respond in their own way.
Veerle Baetens and Johan Heldenbergh play the principal roles in this intense drama, scripted by Felix van Groeningen and Carl Joos. Nico Leunen edited the film; Ruben Impens took care of the photography. The Broken Circle Breakdown Band, led by Bjorn Eriksson, composed the original score.
With over 370,000 admissions in its home territory, The Broken Circle Breakdownbecame the 2012 number one Belgian hit in local theatres. Represented internationally by The Match Factory, the film was also sold to about 30 countries worldwide at Berlin’s latest European Film Market. Further negotiations with several other territories are still running. Later this year, The Broken Circle Breakdown will be released on 100 copies in France and 80 prints in Germany.
The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by among others Robert De Niro. Its mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. It has screened over 1300 films from over 80 countries since its inauguration.
Dirk Impens produced The Broken Circle Breakdown for the Ghent-based production hub Menuet (Turquaze, The Misfortunates). The film was made possible with the support of the VAF/Film Fund of Flemish Cultural Affairs Minister Joke Schauvliege.