Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

LE CIEL FLAMAND (FLEMISH HEAVEN) (Belgium 2016) **
Directed by Peter Monsaert

Review by Gilbert Seah

Twin stories are told in writer/director Monsaert’s second feature set around the events at a local brothel called LE CIEL FLAMAND. One is the rearing of little Sylvie, the 6-year old daughter of the owner Monique who works there together with her own mother.

The brothel has been passed down through generations though it is falling apart, business-wise. Monique is shown as both a smart businesswoman and mother. She keeps the sex acts from Sylvie.

The film’s most amusing segment has Sylvie questioning her mother where babies come from. But when Sylvie appears to be sexually assaulted, things become extremely tense. Uncle Dirk is suspect but it is he who eventually finds the culprit.

All the events are set, ironically at Christmas time, when the joy of Christmas carols is in the air. The performances are excellent, especially those of real mother and daughter Sara Vertongen and Esra Vandenbussche. But the film’s trouble is director Monsaert trying to polish his film with metaphors and ends up becoming confusing and annoying.

An example is the puzzling last scene when Uncle Dirk uses a rope, initially thought for the making of a noose, that turns out to be the two parts of a swing he is making.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5FM0pOaSF4

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