Autumn has arrived in Belgium, and with it come winter coats, rainier days and chilly evenings. What better way to mark the start of the season than with a cosy night at the cinema?
Not sure what to watch? No need to worry: The Brussels Times has selected some of the best films and documentaries that cinephiles and curious cinema-goers should alike should not miss this October.
New releases
'The Apprentice' (2024), Cineflagey, various dates
Just weeks before the US elections on 5 November, Ali Abbasi's new powerful drama is coming to Belgian cinemas. tells the story of how a young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) started his real estate business in 1970s and 1980s New York. With the helping hand of infamous lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), he becomes the Donald Trump the world knows today.
'The Apprentice' includes controversial scenes – including rape and drug abuse – and had difficulty in finding a domestic distributor following an attempt by Trump's legal team to block "all marketing, distribution and publication" of the film.
Find more information here.
'A different man' (2024), Film Fest Gent - Cineflagey, Tuesday 15 October
The 51st edition of the renowned Film Fest Gent is coming to Belgium this month (9 to 20 October). As usual, organisers have promised a packed agenda, with 95 feature films and 29 short films. The festival will open with 'Small Things Like These' by Flemish director Tim Mielants and starring Cillian Murphy, and feature local talents such as Dimitri Verhulst with 'The Weeping Walk', Ish Ait Hamou and Monir Ait Hamou with 'BXL', and Leonardo Van Dijl with 'Julie Keeps Quiet' (see below).
If you don't want to make the trip to Ghent, 'A different man' – also starring Sebastian Stan – is being screened in Brussels. The new American black comedy tells the story of Edward, an introverted New Yorker who has neurofibromatosis and suffers literal and figurative loss of face. He undergoes transformational surgery, hut his dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.
Find more information here.
Halloween specials
'The Shining' (1980), Cineflagey, until Monday 28 October
The start of the spooky season can only mean one thing: "Here's Johnny!" What starts as a family trip to care for a hotel during the harsh winter rapidly turns dark as a dark secret is unravelled, and the characters are plagued with psychic premonitions and disturbing visions.
Featuring haunting performances from Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and a young Danny Lloyd, Stephen King's book adaptation is a must-watch for anyone on the hunt for a memorable psychological thriller.
Find more information here.
'The Witches' (1990), Cineflagey, Thursday 31 October
Directed by Nicolas Roeg, this classic is based on the children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It tells the story of Luke and his grandmother who go on holiday only to discover their hotel is hosting an international witch convention.
As the Grand High Witch unveils her master plan to turn all children into mice, will Luke fall victim to the witches' plot before he can stop them? The perfect night out for all the family this Halloween.
Find more information here.
'Carrie' (1976), Cineflagey, 31 October
Since its first release, Carrie's high school adventure has found its way into the hearts of horror fanatics worldwide. Based on a Stephen King novel, the supernatural thriller tells the story of Carrie White, "the girl no one likes."
After being the target of constant bullying and abuse from everyone in her life, Carrie decides to fight back, but unleashing her telekinetic powers gets out of hand quickly. What better way to celebrate Halloween than with a teen tale featuring a blood bath?
Find more information here.
Other languages
'Julie Keeps Quiet' (2024), various cinemas, various dates
Directed by Leonardo Van Dijl, this Belgian film – titled 'Julie Zwijgt' in Dutch – tells the story of Julie: a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club's players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet.
The film is co-produced by Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka's company, Hana Kuma, and premiered during the Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won three awards. 'Julie Keeps Quiet' has also been selected for several other major festivals including Toronto, Melbourne, Hamburg, and London and will represent Belgium in the Oscar race for Best International Feature Film.
Find more information here.
'Langue étrangère' (2024), Cineflagey, until Thursday 10 October
In this gem of LGBTQ+ cinema directed by Claire Burger, Fanny (Lilith Grasmug), a shy and lonely 17-year-old struggling to make friends, goes on a language exchange to Germany.
In Leipzig, she meets her pen pal, Lena, a teenager eager to become politically active. Fanny is troubled. To win over Lena, she invents a life for herself, to the extent of becoming trapped in her lies.
Find more information here.
