The Giants (French: Les géants) is a 2011 Belgian drama film directed by Bouli Lanners, written by Lanners and Elise Ancion, starring Zacharie Chasseriaud, Martin Nissen, Paul Bartel, Didier Toupy, Karim Leklou, Marthe Keller and Gwen Berrou. Shot in the Ardennes in Belgium and Luxembourg, produced by Jacques-Henri Bronckart and Jani Thiltges for Versus Production, it was released in Belgium on 12 October 2011.[1]
| The Giants | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| French | Les géants |
| Directed by | Bouli Lanners |
| Written by | Bouli Lanners Elise Ancion |
| Produced by | Jacques-Henri Bronckart Jani Thiltges |
| Starring | Zacharie Chasseriaud Martin Nissen Paul Bartel |
| Cinematography | Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd |
| Edited by | Ewin Ryckaert |
| Music by | Bram Van Parys |
| Distributed by | O'Brother Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | Belgium |
| Language | French |
The Giants had its world premiere in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival on May 20, where it won the SACD Prize and the Art Cinema Award. It has received high praise from film critics and is considered one of the best Belgian films of that year, winning five Magritte Awards, including Best Film and Best Director.[2]
Plot
editAbandoned at their late grandfather's house for the summer, teenage brothers Zak and Seth are left to their own devices. With the endless possibilities of summer fun and adventure to be had in the idyllic Belgian countryside, they feel the world is their oyster. But when money runs short and with no help in sight, the boys scheme to support themselves by renting their deceased grandfather's house to a local drug dealer, but things don't go exactly as planned.
Cast
edit- Zacharie Chasseriaud as Zak
- Martin Nissen as Seth
- Paul Bartel as Danny
- Didier Toupy as the dealer
- Karim Leklou as Angel
- Marthe Keller as Rosa
- Gwen Berrou as Marth
Release
editThe film premiered on 20 May in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.[3] The film was subsequently screened at various film festivals, including Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur and BFI London Film Festival, and premiered in the United States at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on January 27 2011. The Belgian regular release was on 12 October 2011 through O'Brother Distribution. Haut et Court bought the distribution rights for France and Eye Film Instituut bought the Dutch distribution. The film was released in France on 2 November 2011 and in the Netherlands on 26 January 2012. As of November 6, 2011, The Giants has grossed $211,657 in Belgium and $119,816 in France.[4] Following its wins at the 2nd Magritte Awards, it was announced O’Brother Distribution would re-release the film in Belgium on 8 February 2012.[5]
The Giants was released on DVD on 7 March 2012 in France. The home edition contains a making-of and a music video for the theme song "The Bony King of Nowhere" by Bram Vanparys.[6]
Accolades
edit| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angoulême Francophone Film Fest[7] | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Valois Magelis | Bouli Lanners | Nominated | |
| Cannes Film Festival[8] | SACD Prize | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Label Europa Cinemas Prize | Bouli Lanners | Nominated | |
| Art Cinema Award | Bouli Lanners | Won | |
| Châtenay-Malabry Film Festival[7] | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Prix du Développement Durable | Bouli Lanners | Nominated | |
| Award of the Youth | Bouli Lanners | Won | |
| Audience Award | Bouli Lanners | Nominated | |
| Chicago International Film Festival[9] | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Dieppe International Film Festival[10] | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Festival du Film Francophone[11] | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Best Cinematography | Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd | Won | |
| Best Actor | Zacharie Chasseriaud, Martin Nissen, Paul Bartel | Won | |
| Best Actress | Marthe Keller | Nominated | |
| Lumières Award[12] | Best French-Language Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Magritte Award[13] | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Best Director | Bouli Lanners | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Bouli Lanners, Elise Ancion | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Didier Toupy | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Gwen Berrou | Won | |
| Most Promising Actor | Martin Nissen | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd | Won | |
| Best Sound | Marc Bastien, Thomas Gauder | Nominated | |
| Best Production Design | Paul Rouschop | Nominated | |
| Best Costume Design | Elise Ancion | Nominated | |
| Best Original Score | Bram Van Parys | Won | |
| Best Editing | Ewin Ryckaert | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 70. ISBN 978-1908215017.
- ^ Engelen, Aurore (6 February 2012). "Bouli Lanners awarded in Brussels". Cineuropa.org. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "Les Géants | Directors' Fortnight". quinzaine-realisateurs.com. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "Les géants". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "L'Effet Magritte : Les Géants, à nouveau en salles" (in French). Académie André Delvaux. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- ^ "DVD: Les Géants". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Récompenses et nominations pour le film Les Géants". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ ""Les Géants" et "Atmen" primés à la Quinzaine des Réalisateurs". AlloCiné (in French). 21 May 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ "The Giants". chicagofilmfestival.com. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ "Nouveau prix pour Les géants de Bouli Lanners". RTC (in French). 10 October 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ ""Après le Sud" et "Les Géants" au Festival international du film francophone de Namur". quinzaine-realisateurs.com. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ "Que les Lumières soient !". cinevox.be (in French). 13 January 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ "Les Géants et Bullhead, vainqueurs des Magritte !". canalplus.fr (in French). 5 February 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
External links
edit- The Giants at IMDb
- The Giants at AllMovie