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Finding romance again in Belgium
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Moscow, Belgium
Moscow, Belgium is a character driven story with a simple plot and universal themes which include love and heartbreak. Matty (Barbara Sarafian) is a postal worker with three kids, whose cad of a husband has left her for a younger woman - a student in his art class. She remains somewhat hopeful, but her sadness wears clearly on her forty-one years. She's tough and will tolerate no nonsense from anyone. Johnny (Jurgen Delnaet) is a truck driver with a similar past, as well as a few skeletons. His wife, the only love of his life, cheated on him and left him for her attorney. The two meet by literally running into each other outside the grocery mart when she backs into his truck. They immediately argue, their personal frustrations overflowing and getting the better of them until the police arrive. But something Matty says in the dispute hits home and Johnny develops an attraction to her, even though she is eleven years older. He recognizes that she has genuine strength and character which catches him off guard and challenges his ill-opinion of women in general. He gradually becomes smitten with her and begins to pursue her romantically, much to her reluctance and dismay. Another key character is Vera, Matty's seventeen-year old daughter, played by Anemone Valcke. Vera is becoming an adult with a secret love interest of her own, and it is amusing to see the mother and daughter relate openly, as new and unexpected romance enters their lives.
The pacing by director Christopher Van Rompaey is deliberate and nuanced. His central characters are indeed flawed and human. He doesn't glamorize them with make-up nor try to make them victims, nor perfect in any sense. The musical score is soft and delicate, which not only suits the pacing but reflects the souls of the characters in a sympathetic way. It is refreshing to see the beauty of these people from within and the expressive performance by Barbara Saraian is exceptional.
This is a very entertaining story, well told, with themes many can identify with: growing older, the difficulty of parenthood, marriage, heartbreak and the chance of finding love again. Ultimately Matty will have to choose between a reconciliation with her husband and settling for the old and familiar, albeit, unfulfilling life, or taking a chance on opening her heart again to a passionate man who loves her. It is understandable to build walls around our hearts when we've been hurt and a risky proposition to open it up again. In this movie, you are never sure what will happen because the circumstances are very real, making the choices not easy. It is a very beautiful, touching and satisfying movie. The film's language is told in Flemish and Dutch with English subtitles. It is showing at the Avalon Theater on Connecticut Avenue.
Not Rated.
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