The Giants (2011 film)

The Giants (French: Les géants) is a 2011 Belgian drama film directed by Bouli Lanners, written by Lanners and Elise Ancion, starring Zacharie Chasseriaud, Martin Nissen, Paul Bartel, Didier Toupy, Karim Leklou, Marthe Keller and Gwen Berrou. Shot in the Ardennes in Belgium and Luxembourg, produced by Jacques-Henri Bronckart and Jani Thiltges for Versus Production, it was released in Belgium on October 12, 2011.[1]

The Giants
Theatrical release poster
FrenchLes géants
Directed byBouli Lanners
Produced byJacques-Henri Bronckart
Jani Thiltges
Written byBouli Lanners
Elise Ancion
Music byBram Van Parys
CinematographyJean-Paul De Zaeytijd
Edited byEwin Ryckaert
Release date
Running time
84 minutes
CountryBelgium
LanguageFrench

The Giants had its world premiere in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival on May 20, where it won the SACD Prize and the Art Cinema Award. It has received high praise from film critics and is considered one of the best Belgian films of that year, winning five Magritte Awards, including Best Film and Best Director.[2]

Plot

Abandoned at their late grandfather's house for the summer, teenage brothers Zak and Seth are left to their own devices. With the endless possibilities of summer fun and adventure to be had in the idyllic Belgian countryside, they feel the world is their oyster. But when money runs short and with no help in sight, the boys scheme to support themselves by renting their deceased grandfather's house to a local drug dealer, but things don't go exactly as planned.

Cast
  • Zacharie Chasseriaud as Zak
  • Martin Nissen as Seth
  • Paul Bartel as Danny
  • Didier Toupy as the dealer
  • Karim Leklou as Angel
  • Marthe Keller as Rosa
  • Gwen Berrou as Marth

Release

The film premiered on 20 May in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.[3] The film was subsequently screened at various film festivals, including Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur and BFI London Film Festival, and premiered in the United States at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on January 27, 2011. The Belgian regular release was on 12 October 2011 through O'Brother Distribution. Haut et Court bought the distribution rights for France and Eye Film Instituut bought the Dutch distribution. The film was released in France on 2 November 2011 and in the Netherlands on 26 January 2012. As of November 6, 2011, The Giants has grossed $211,657 in Belgium and $119,816 in France.[4] Following its wins at the 2nd Magritte Awards, it was announced O’Brother Distribution would re-release the film in Belgium on 8 February 2012.[5]

The Giants was released on DVD on March 7, 2012 in France. The home edition contains a making-of and a music video for the theme song "The Bony King of Nowhere" by Bram Vanparys.[6]

Accolades
Award Category Recipient(s) Result
Angoulême Francophone Film Fest[7] Best Film Bouli Lanners Nominated
Valois Magelis Bouli Lanners Nominated
Cannes Film Festival[8] SACD Prize Bouli Lanners Won
Label Europa Cinemas Prize Bouli Lanners Nominated
Art Cinema Award Bouli Lanners Won
Châtenay-Malabry Film Festival[7] Best Film Bouli Lanners Nominated
Prix du Développement Durable Bouli Lanners Nominated
Award of the Youth Bouli Lanners Won
Audience Award Bouli Lanners Nominated
Chicago International Film Festival[9] Best Film Bouli Lanners Nominated
Dieppe International Film Festival[10] Best Film Bouli Lanners Won
Festival du Film Francophone[11] Best Film Bouli Lanners Nominated
Best Cinematography Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd Won
Best Actor Zacharie Chasseriaud, Martin Nissen, Paul Bartel Won
Best Actress Marthe Keller Nominated
Lumières Award[12] Best French-Language Film Bouli Lanners Nominated
Magritte Award[13] Best Film Bouli Lanners Won
Best Director Bouli Lanners Won
Best Screenplay Bouli Lanners, Elise Ancion Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Didier Toupy Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Gwen Berrou Won
Most Promising Actor Martin Nissen Nominated
Best Cinematography Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd Won
Best Sound Marc Bastien, Thomas Gauder Nominated
Best Production Design Paul Rouschop Nominated
Best Costume Design Elise Ancion Nominated
Best Original Score Bram Van Parys Won
Best Editing Ewin Ryckaert Nominated

References
  1. Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 70. ISBN 978-1908215017.
  2. Engelen, Aurore (February 6, 2012). "Bouli Lanners awarded in Brussels". Cineuropa.org. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  3. "Les Géants | Directors' Fortnight". quinzaine-realisateurs.com. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  4. "Les géants". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  5. "L'Effet Magritte : Les Géants, à nouveau en salles" (in French). Académie André Delvaux. February 8, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  6. "DVD: Les Géants". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  7. "Récompenses et nominations pour le film Les Géants". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  8. ""Les Géants" et "Atmen" primés à la Quinzaine des Réalisateurs". AlloCiné (in French). 21 May 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  9. "The Giants". chicagofilmfestival.com. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  10. "Nouveau prix pour Les géants de Bouli Lanners". RTC (in French). October 10, 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  11. ""Après le Sud" et "Les Géants" au Festival international du film francophone de Namur". quinzaine-realisateurs.com. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  12. "Que les Lumières soient !". cinevox.be (in French). January 13, 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  13. "Les Géants et Bullhead, vainqueurs des Magritte !". canalplus.fr (in French). February 5, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
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