Midsummer might not be a time typically associated with trips to the movies, but there is plenty at Brussels' best independent cinemas to warm the spirits on dreary days.
The Brussels Times has selected a few of the best films and documentaries that cinephiles and curious cinema-goers should be sure not to miss this July.
Ones to watch
'Fly Me to the Moon' (2024), various cinemas, throughout July
Set during the so-called "space race" in which Cold War rivals the United States and Soviet Union competed to land on the moon, this is an American romantic comedy with a twist and will especially appeal to those interested in conspiracy theories and all things space.
NASA brings in marketing genius Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) to fix the American space agency's public image and "sell the moon" – wreaking havoc for launch director Cole Davis (Channing Tatum). When the White House makes it clear the mission is too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a "back-up" fake moon landing. Launch in 3, 2, 1?
'Kinds of Kindness' (2024), various cinemas, throughout July
Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos is back with another star-studded blockbuster following his acclaimed 'Poor Things' last year. Once again featuring Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, this triptych fable follows a man trying to take control of his own life; a police officer whose missing wife unexpectedly returns; and a woman destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader.
With its punchy and powerful trailer, Lanthimos' new absurdist black comedy is definitely worth a watch this summer.
Find more information here.
'The Bikeriders' (2024), various cinemas, until 14 July
After a chance encounter at a local bar, wilfully determined Kathy is inextricably drawn to Benny, the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club "the Vandals", led by the enigmatic Johnny.
Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.
Find more information here.
'How to Have Sex' (2023), Cinema Palace, until 12 August
Three British teenage girls – Tara, Skye and Em – go on a rite-of-passage Greek holiday to celebrate finishing their exams, in what should be the best summer of their lives. The trio enjoy party after bender after all-nighter until one of the girls starts asking herself uncomfortable questions.
This coming-of-age drama explores adulthood and the sexualisation of young women to weave a nuanced, mature and compelling story that deals with essential conversations about consent.
Find more information here.
Golden oldies
'Trainspotting' (1996), Cineflagey, until 11 August
"Choose a life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television." This 1990s cult classic – lauded as one of the best films of the decade – is back on Brussels' big screen.
The black comedy follows a group of heroin-dependent young people in an economically depressed area of Edinburgh. It stars Ewan McGregor as Mark Renton, who attempts (several times) to get clean and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends.
Find more information here.
'Showgirls' (1995), Cineflagey, until 14 August
This erotic drama by Dutch director Paul Verhoeven (who gained fame for his 1992 erotic thriller 'Basic Instinct') tells the story of Nomi Malone, a mysterious young drifter who hitches a ride to Las Vegas. Once there, she begins working as a dancer in a strip club as she sets out to make it to the top of the Vegas showgirls.
The film's initial release was highly controversial due to the amount of sex and nudity depicted in mainstream theatres. Despite bombing in the box office and still ranking consistently as one of the worst films ever made, it quickly became a cult hit with a dedicated fanbase.
Find more information here.
Festivals
'Bruxelles fait son cinéma', various locations in Brussels, until 16 July
The major open-air cinema festival 'Bruxelles fait son cinéma' is returning to the capital for the first half of July. For the first time, the "travelling cinema" will stop in all of the region's 19 communes (up from 15 last year) bringing free open-air screenings to some of the capital's most beloved and popular areas as well as lesser-known locations.
Credit: Bruxelles Fait Son Cinema / Laureline Baron
Among the many screenings are 'Io capitano' on Saturday 6 July in Anderlecht, 'La chimera' on Monday 8 July in Auderghem and 'Anatomie d'une chute' on Saturday 13 July in Forest.
Find more information here.
Other languages
'Youth (Spring)' (2023), Cinema Galeries, Saturday 6 July
This documentary-film by Wang Bing was shot between 2014 and 2019 in the town of Zhili, a district approximately 150 km from Shanghai in China. The city is home to over 18,000 privately-run workshops producing children's clothes, where young people flock from all the rural regions crossed by the Yangtze River.
The sweatshops employ around 300,000 migrant workers, who work tirelessly to one day raise a child, buy a house or set up their own business. The workers crack jokes, flirt, bicker, argue with their bosses over their poor wages, listen to pop music and live in deplorable conditions. As the seasons change, friendships and love affairs are forged and unravelled, bankruptcies occur and pressures mount.
Find more information here.
'REINES' (2022), Cineflagey, until 25 July
A trio of women in Casablanca (Morocco) embark on a long escape with the police on their tail. Their journey takes them across the rugged red terrain and flower-filled valleys of the Atlas Mountains to finally reach the Atlantic coast.
Directed by Yasmine Benkiran, this thrilling adventure set against a stunningly scenic backdrop offers a diverse and endearing snapshot of Moroccan society.
Find more information here.
