The Flaxfield ( De Vlaschaard ) ( The Flax Field )

The Flaxfield (DVD) (*)

~~$24.99~~ $18.97

Original Title: De Vlaschaard
Alternate Title: The Flax Field
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
Dutch ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Dutch ( Subtitles )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Belgium ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
90 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.66:1)

Special Features:
Biographies
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1983 and produced in:
Belgium ( France, Benelux )

Directed By:
Jan Gruyaert

Written By:
Jan Gruyaert
Stijn Streuvels (novel)

Actors:
Rik Bravenboer
Willy de Bruyne
Chris Cauwenbergs ..... Notaris
Dirk Celis ..... Bert
Micheline Claeys
Mieke De Groote ..... Martha
Danny De Jonghe
Fons Derre
John De Schutter
Juliette Van de Sompel ..... Netje
Katrien de Vos
Juliette De Witte ..... Hantje
Benthe Forrer ..... Louise
Jos Geens ..... Stafke
Gusta Gerritsen ..... Schellebelle
Anne Goossens
Mia Grijp
Daan Hugaert ..... Jan
Karin Jacobs ..... Trees
Jos Kennis
Guido Lauwaert
Gil Lefever
Vic Moeremans ..... Farmer Vermeulen
Louis Mortier
Roos Pauwels
Marc Peeters ..... Ivo
Max Schnur ..... Doorken de Slijter

Synopsis:

A traditional Belgian father and his modern-thinking son battle it out in this family drama set in Belgium during the early 1900s. The conflict centers around the planting of flax. The son would rather play around with the milkmaid than farm. To instill his work ethic within the free-thinking lad, the father buys a neighboring farm. It doesn't work until the father lies upon his death bed. The loyal son comes around and begins to help. The cinematography for the film is notable.

In a part of Flanders where flax is the main crop, farmer Vermeulen rules his estate like an 'old school' patriarch, stern and authoritarian, nobody else's word is ever taken seriously, just scolded fools, he rather risks being wrong then considering any advice. His marriage is based on a grim understanding: the wife Barbele accepts his heartless manner with everyone, even their studious, smart, healthy, studly son and heir Louis, but his two silly sisters are spoiled with a pointless fancy nunnery boarding school education fit for the upper classes. Farm-life is hard enough, laboring without machines or reliable weather, but this year the stubborn master made it even worse by picking the riskier, badly drained field and sowing later then his neighbors, even when luck turns he'll fetch a lower price for it. Poor practically perfect Louis is granted neither praise, respect nor any pleasure, however hard and well he slaves, obedient like the hired farmhands although well-read. Even being seen innocently frolicking with the milkmaid Honorine 'Schellebelle' earns him not just another public scolding -everbody is used to those all the time-, father, who has an absurd paranoia ma secretly plots with Louis to 'push him aside', decides it's time to marry the 'boy' off, telling ma to find him a 'suitable' bride without even telling their son, and scrapes together their life savings to buy a retiring neighbor's estate for the still non-existing couple. While pa is off to the auction, Louis takes it on himself to order finishing the urgent harvesting, but when the old tyrant sees this unauthorized initiative, already celebrating in the customary way, his abominably unforgiving arrogance drives him to commit an utterly unforgivable crime...

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 16 December, 2005.

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