KING OF THE BELGIANS

Peter Van den Begin gives another masterful performance (see him also in “Everybody Happy”—41st CIFF) as the titular King Nicolas III of Belgium, a man who is beginning to maybe question his role in the world. The vehicle for the story revolves around a British documentary filmmaker trying to film a flattering portrait of Nicolas and his family. But, while the king and his staff are in Turkey on a state visit, the Belgium province of Wallonia declares independence and the king must hurry back to Brussels to settle matters. A solar flare has all but destroyed all chances of modern travel and communications, so the court must find a way home via the Balkans. Yes, those Balkans. KING OF THE BELGIANS provides a humorous portrait of a man unsure of his place in the world, trying to get back to a country with a similar station in Europe. Van den Begin’s performance is worth the price of admission, and the directing duo of Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth provide a film that is both hilarious and poignant—a beautifully shot visual tour of forgotten lands through the eyes of a man struggling to remain relevant in his own country. (In English, French, Dutch, and Bulgarian with subtitles) —T.W.