September 22 - Benoît Poelvoorde

 

Happy 56th Birthday, Benoît Poelvoorde! Born today in 1964, this Belgian comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer and director is undoubtedly the most well-known Namur-born actor in the history of cinema.  

Now in his late 50s, this talented Belgian has proven himself as an actor and comedian over the last twenty years and his career shows no signs of slowing down. 

Poelvoorde attended the Jesuit Boarding School of Godinne before he left home at seventeen to take classes at the Félicien Rops Technical Institute in Namur (Belgium). This was where he met Belgian actor, director, producer and screenwriter Rémy Belvaux. 

Poelvoorde later developed a passion for theater and became noted for his atypical interpretations. Not only was he destined to become a draughtsman, he also developed professionality as a photographer. 

During his graphic design studies in Brussels, he also became friends with French film director, screenwriter and producer André Bonzel. 

In 1988, Poelvoorde and Bonzel, along with Belvaux, directed their first movie; a student short film (which Poelvoorde co-wrote and co-directd). It was a stylized trailer for a mock-spy film. 

Four years later, Poelvoorde co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed and co-starred in the film of which he is best known. 

This was the 1992 Belgian black and white dark comedy crime/drama mockumentary film 'Man Bites Dog'. 

The film also goes by the title 'C'est arrivé près de chez vous', literally "It Happened Near Your Home". 

The story for the film was conceived by Belvaux, and was produced on a shoe-string budget by four student filmmakers. The film was originally a low-budget school graduation project in 1992. 

It was a kind of cynical "noir" feature, inspired from the famous Belgian television documentary program Strip-Tease (1985–present). 

Bonzel shot, co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed and co-starred. Bonzel (Cameraman) is credited by his first name and Belvaux (Reporter) is credited by his first name as well. 

'Man Bites Dog' follows the activities of the rampaging, indiscriminate serial killer Ben (Poelvoorde). Each are recorded by a willingly complicit documentary team, who eventually become his accomplices and active participants.  

At first dispassionate observers, they eventually find themselves caught up in the increasingly chaotic and nihilistic violence. 

During their crimes, Ben provides casual commentary on the nature of his work and arbitrary musings on topics of interest to him, such as music or the conditions of low-income housing.  

He even goes so far as to introduce the documentary crew to his family. However, their reckless indulgences soon get the better of them. 

Over the years, 'Man Bites Dog' has become a cult film. It had also received a rare NC-17 rating for its release in the United States. 

'Man Bites Dog' is an extraordinary commentary on screen violence, chronicling the life of a ruthless, loquacious serial killer who murders for the fun of it.  

As the television news crew films a profile on the psychopath, both are slowly drawn into his maniacal path in this disturbing, darkly funny mockumentary. 

'Man Bites Dog' was screened at the 45th Cannes Film Festival in May 1992, where it won the International Critics’ Prize, the SACD award for Best Feature and the Special Award of the Youth for the three directors.  

The film later received the André Cavens Award for Best Film by the Belgian Film Critics Association (UCC). 

However, the film's controversial content and extreme violence was off-putting to some viewers, and resulted in the film being banned in Sweden. In 2003, the video was banned in Ireland. 

In May 2004, Poelvoorde became a member of the 57th Cannes Film Festival Jury by request of Quentin Tarantino, a big fan of 'Man Bites Dog' who had presided over the Jury that year. 

Two years later, Belvaux committed suicide in Orry-la-Ville, France on September 4, 2006. He was 39.

Poelvoorde also played serious roles. Most notably, this was co-starring (with Audrey Tautou) in the 2009 French/Belgian biographical romance/drama film 'Coco avant Chanel' ('Coco Before Chanel').  

In the film, Poelvoorde plays Étienne Balsan, a French socialite and heir. Presently, the real Balsan is best known in having kept Chanel as his mistress.

The following year, Poelvoorde co-starred in the 2010 French/Belgian comedy film 'Rien à déclarer'('Nothing to Declare'.

This was alongside French actor, director, screenwriter and producer Dany Boon, who also wrote the screenplay.

According to Pathé, ‘Nothing to Declare' sold 48,155 tickets in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, (a former administrative region of France) on the opening night. 

This was the biggest film success in the region since the 2008 French comedy/romance film 'Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis' ('Welcome to the Sticks'), of which Boon had co-written, co-starred and directed.

One of the major themes of 'Nothing to Declare' is how the European Union's vision of Europe may be good in theory but in practice can be damaging to the local economy in the border regions. 

Critical reception of this film has been generally mixed. AlloCiné has given the film 2.5 out of Rotten Tomatoes lists two reviews from critics, one positive, one negative 

According to his personal life, Poelvoorde had revealed in interviews that he suffers from bipolar disorder. 

An initiative praised by both the authorities and the critics (as well as by his very many fans which also marks his attachment to his native city and our country), Poelvoorde, a talented but offbeat actor, puts Belgium in the spotlight. 

Poelvoorde has been active from 1983–present. 

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