The Misfortunates ( De helaasheid der dingen ) ( The Shittiness of Things )

The Misfortunates (Blu-Ray) (*)

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Original Title: De helaasheid der dingen
Alternate Title: The Shittiness of Things
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Cannes Film Festival

Language Selections:
Dutch ( DTS 5.1 )
Dutch ( DTS-HD Master Audio )
Dutch ( Subtitles )
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Netherlands ( Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C )

Running Time:
109 min + 60 min extras

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Commentary
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 2009 and produced in:
Belgium ( France, Benelux )
Netherlands ( France, Benelux )

Directed By:
Felix Van Groeningen

Written By:
Christophe Dirickx
Felix Van Groeningen

Actors:
Kenneth Vanbaeden ..... Kleine Gunther Strobbe (13 jaar)
Valentijn Dhaenens ..... Gunther Strobbe
Koen De Graeve ..... Marcel 'Celle' Strobbe
Wouter Hendrickx ..... Lowie 'Petrol' Strobbe
Johan Heldenbergh ..... Pieter 'Breejen' Strobbe
Bert Haelvoet ..... Koen Strobbe
Gilda De Bal ..... Meetje
Natali Broods ..... Tante Rosie
Pauline Grossen ..... Nichtje Sylvie
Sofie Palmers ..... Vriendin Gunther
Guy Dermul ..... Directeur school
Jos Geens ..... André
Robbie Cleiren ..... Deurwaarder
Sara De Bosschere ..... Nele Fockedey
Wout Kelchtermans ..... Kleine Franky

Synopsis:

Gunther Strobbe, 13, lives with his father and three uncles at his grandmother's. There, he daily faces enormous quantities of alcohol, picking up women and shameless hanging out and doing nothing. Everything points to Gunther suffering the same fate. Or will Gunther yet manage to escape his misfortune?

A boy growing up with a family of Flemish slobs learns more than his elders imagined they were capable of teaching in this purposefully rude comedy-drama. Gunther Strobbe (Kenneth Vanbaeden) is thirteen years old and living with his father Marcel (Koen De Graeve), his three uncles (Bert Haelvoet, Johan Heldenbergh and Wouter Hendrickx) and his grandmother (Gilda De Bal). You would think that Gunther has more than enough adult role models in his life, but the Strobbes are not an ordinary family; Marcel works part-time as a letter carrier, though the fact there are several bars on his route makes getting the work done a challenge, while his brothers are booze-addled layabouts who sponge off their mother, who is too sweet to deny them her meager pension. Gunther loves his family, but they often seem more like seedy playmates than authority figures, as the men in the house spend their days gulping down beer and sausage, breaking things, playing rude pranks on others and chasing women, often with hilarious but embarrassing consequences. Years later, Gunther has launched a career as a writer, is married and is expecting a son; suddenly frightened by the new responsibilities that await him, Gunther seeks out Marcel and his brothers for some advice on fatherhood, a subject one might not imagine is one of their strong suits. Directed by Felix van Groeningen, De Helaasheid der Dingen (aka The Misfortunates) was adapted from the novel by Dimitri Verhulst.

13-year-old Gunther Strobbe grows up surrounded by alcohol, trash and his completely useless father and uncles. Slowly but surely, he's being prepared for the same hapless life. Can he defy his destiny?

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 25 April, 2016.

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