Another View 2011 / Blue Bird / Belgium 2011
Blue Bird is loosely based on the stage play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck. One morning Bafiokadié and his sister Téné leave their village to find their lost blue bird before the day is over. The film’s appeal comes from a combination of its visual components and its spontaneous, amateur performances.
Blue Bird is loosely based on the stage play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck. Although the protagonists are still two children, the director set the story in Africa, specifically in Togo. One morning Bafiokadié and his sister Téné leave their village to find their lost blue bird before the day is over. But they find much more along the way – they meet their dead grandparents, fight with the Soul of the Forest, and get invaluable advice from the Chief of Pleasure. On their path to maturity they lose their bird but gain understanding. The highly stylized movie adaptation is no less original. Its magic and appeal come from a combination of its visual components (the film is presented in supercinemascope and tinged blue) and the lively, spontaneous, amateur performances by the two children and the other players. In connection with the film, director Van den Berghe remarked that "a day is a life.”
86 min / Color, DCP
Director Gust Van den Berghe
/ Screenplay Gust Van den Berghe podle divadelní hry / based on the stage play by Maurice Maeterlinck
/ Dir. of Photography Hans Bruch Jr.
/ Music Alexander Zhikarev, Michel Bisceglia
/ Editor David Verdurme
/ Producer Tomas Leyers
/ Production Minds Meet
/ Cast Bafiokadié Potey, Téné Potey, Ayekem Narisse, N’Dah Dodji
/ Contact Coproduction Office
www: www.bluebirdfilm.eu
Gust Van den Berghe (b. 1985) is a multi-talented Belgian artist. He began dancing at a very early age, and performed with Praga Khan, the Royal Ballet of Flanders, and Marc Bogaerts, as well as in several plays. He then studied at the School of Audiovisual Art of Brussels. He has shot several short films (My Daddy and Me; Cut, both 2006; On the Surface, 2007) and documentaries (cum*SHOT and Les Petits Rois, both 2007; Tegenpolen, 2008). This year, like his feature debut Little Baby Jesus of Flandr (En waar de sterre bleef stille staan, 2010), Blue Bird was presented at Cannes in the Directors’ Fortnight section. The director is now writing another script for a feature, the final installment of his triptych.
Coproduction Office
24, rue Lamartine, 750 09, Paris
France
Phone: +33 156 026 000
Fax: +33 156 026 001
E-mail: [email protected]
Gust Van den Berghe
Film Director
First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.
