By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Geoffrey Enthoven
Starring: Marijke Pinoy | Nand Buyl | Viviane De Muynck
Original language title: Vidange perdue
Country: belgium
Year: 2007
Running time: 90
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0495637/
Bruce says: “This film is a rarity because it features a central character that is not particularly likeable yet his story is funny and illustrative of a major problem facing communities worldwide – what to do with the aged.
“Lucien Kopps (Nand Buyl) is the eighty year old protagonist of the story, and we meet him shortly after he has moved in with his daughter Gerda (Misée Wyns) and her husband. He drinks too much and his housekeeping habits are deplorable. It takes little time before there is serious friction between Lucien and Gerda. The recently widowed Lucien only seems to relate to his granddaughter Julie (Liesje Patteet) who, not surprisingly, does not get along with her mother. Lucien has not yet sold his house but Gerda is pressing him to do so because she wants the money to buy a mobile home for vacationing. She is not subtle about her wishes. When it appears that Lucien cannot stay with her, Gerda wants to put him in a retirement home. They visit the retirement home and Lucien sees people his own age and younger who are staring into space and being treated like small children. He decides to return to his own house.
“Lucien’s housekeeper Mathilde (Viviane De Muynck) is the wife of a close friend. Mathilde and Lucien have been having a secret affair for years and their passion has not waned. A particularly funny scene involves sex on the dining room table. Mathilde is a full figured gal who has a jealous streak; she demands that Lucien be faithful to her…or else. When Lucien becomes friendly with Sylvie (Marijke Pinoy), a younger woman who moves in across the street, Mathilde suspects there is more than friendship involved. Lucien is quite taken by Sylvie whose husband is in the very retirement home he and Gerda visited. Sylvie’s husband has Alzheimer’s and needs full time care. Sylvie seems to be making romantic overtures towards Lucien; Mathilde is out for revenge; Gerda is furious that she will not be getting her mobile home; Julie decides to move to Paris; and Lucien burns his toast which starts a fire in his kitchen.
“What to do with a sexually active, boozing octogenarian who still wants to participate in life to the best of his capabilities? Geoffrey Enthoven presents many of the issues without being heavy handed. With a wonderful performance by famed Belgian actor Nand Buyl and a fabulously comedic turn by veteran stage actress Viviane De Muynck, the film is entertaining and thought provoking in equal parts. 4 cats
“THE ONLY ONE screened at the 2007 New Directors/New Films festival co-sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and MOMA.”