First Belgian Oscar-nominated film in theatres again
Daens, a Belgian film released in 1992 and the first ever Belgian film to be nominated for an Oscar, is being re-relased to cinemas.
A 1992 movie classic by Belgian director Stijn Coninx is experiencing a breath of fresh air with a rerelease. The film stars Jan Decleir as the priest and politician Adolf Daens, a Jesuit who advocated for labour rights in Belgium in the 19th century and who founded the Christian People’s Party (Christene Volkspartij).
Based on a novel by famed Belgian author Louis Paul Boon, the film recounts Daens’ real-life story, starting from his return to his hometown of Aalst in 1890, where he saw the dire conditions of working people.
The film, which was restored by Brussels institution CINEMATEK in 2017, also features a young Matthias Schoenaerts and his late father Julien, as well as Michaël Pas, a celebrated actor who has appeared in countless Belgian TV series and films and has voiced our very own Tintin.
According to its director, Daens “remains particularly current because solidarity is at the forefront” in it, a notion he feels has become too forgotten in current times.
Have you seen a Stijn Coninx film? What’s your favourite?