Film: King of the Belgians

Let the Brabançonne resound, because it has finally arrived: a film about the Belgian monarchy

Not that King of the Belgians is an Eden for royalty watchers. If you know the work of the adventurous directing duo Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth from their poetic odysseys like Khadak and Altiplano, you'll know that they prefer to wander off the beaten path and break all the rules.

And that is no different in this deliciously absurd and semi-improvised royal comedy about Nicolas III of Belgium (a brilliant Peter Van den Begin). Along with his retinue, including a British filmmaker, he travels incognito across the Balkans on his way to Belgium, while that country no longer exists.

More than an irreverent fable about Europe or a head of state who has become set in his ceremonial ways, this mockumentary-style road movie is a colourful ode to the poetry of art and the joy of little everyday things.

> BE, NL, BG, 2016, dir.: Peter Brosens, Jessica Woodworth act.: Peter Van den Begin, Bruno Georis, Lucie Debay, 94 min. Aventure, UGC De Brouckère