John-Thor Dahlburg
When the Belgian film producer Dirk Impens lost out in the Oscars 21 years ago, he remembers swearing to himself never to put on a tuxedo again unless he had another shot at the golden statuette.
This Sunday, he’ll be wearing that tux.
The small European country of Belgium, birthplace of Audrey Hepburn and Jean-Claude Van Damme, has never won a foreign film Oscar. This year, it has a nominee in The Broken Circle Breakdown, a heartstring-tugging drama with a bluegrass soundtrack about a man and woman who fall in love and must confront tragedy when their daughter develops cancer.
For Impens, just being in the running again is proof that this nation’s Dutch-language cinema industry has become an international player. Two years ago, another Belgian movie shot in Dutch, “Bullhead” was an Oscar finalist as well, but lost out to an Iranian film.
“We have the strong conviction that Flemish (Dutch-language) Belgian filmmakers over the past 10 years have been making so much progress, such great films,” said Impens. If talent, effort and a solid connection with the home audience are sufficient to guarantee winning the most prestigious prize in filmdom, “we feel like we deserve it”.
The director, Felix Van Groeningen, is proud of the movie he made and the fact it’s become an Oscar contender. But he’s also proud of what other contemporary Flemish filmmakers have achieved.
"Bullhead was a big success and was nominated, building our confidence," Van Groeningen said. "It also launched careers. It's so fantastic to see that we can make these kinds of movies. Maybe we didn't believe in ourselves five years ago."
Critics have said a fine musical score and powerful performances, including Nell Cattrysee in the role of 6-year-old Maybelle, hold The Broken Circle Breakdown together and keep audiences engaged.
Beyond the intimate portrait it paints of the male banjo player and female tattoo artist who meet and fall in love, and of their relationship with the child they have together, the film asks bigger questions, including whether the human spirit triumphs over death.
In the run-up to the Oscars, the 111-minute drama has won numerous critical and audience awards, including best actress and screenplay at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, best foreign language film from the Washington, D C Area Critics Association and “most beautiful screen kiss” in a Belgian movie website’s online poll.
But the Belgians who made the film realise it is up against stiff competition, including the 2014 Golden Globe winner The Great Beauty from Italy and Denmark's The Hunt, whose male lead, former Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen, was honored with the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.
“We know the other films have been winning lots of competitions,” Impens said. “We’re the underdogs, plain and simple.”
This year, a rule change has enabled all of the almost 5,800 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to vote on foreign-film entries, the producer said, so the old ways of trying to improve a movie’s chances may no longer work.
That’s why Impens, Van Groeningen and a small entourage have been in Los Angeles since February 4, trying to get as many of the people whose opinions count to view it as they can, the producer said.
To generate buzz, “first, you have to be out here”, Impens said. “The second thing is, organized screenings. We organize lots.”
*Associated Press
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
SPECS
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Second leg:
Monday, Azizi Stadium, Tehran. Kick off 7pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
