Moscow, Belgium (Aanrijding in Moscou) (2008)
88%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 13 wins & 7 nominations
Moscow, Belgium is a Flemish comedy of ill-manners that is both whimsical and spot-on in its portrayal of a middle-class family and their daily clashes. Director Christophe Van Rompaey’s use of wordless scenes and a delightful score by Tuur Florizoone adds to the film’s charm. While the story may not be anything special, Barbara Sarafian’s performance as the strong and sexy mother, Matty, is truly special. This European-style chick flick is a refreshing change from its American counterpart, and even men can sit through and enjoy it. Overall, Moscow, Belgium is a simple pleasure that should not be denied.
Moscow, Belgium is a Flemish comedy of ill-manners that tells the story of a middle-class family and their daily clashes. While some critics found the domestic drama to linger a little too long at the kitchen sink, others praised the film’s delightful sense of whimsy and full-bodied performances. Personally, I found the film to be a European-style chick flick where all the women are wonderful and the men are jerks, but unlike the American genre, this is one men can actually sit through and enjoy. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Amelie-like score?
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Ghent, Flanders, Belgium
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):Flemish, Dutch
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 2008 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2009
Genre(s)
Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Barbara Sarafian, Jurgen Delnaet, Johan Heldenbergh, Anemone Valcke, Sofia Ferri, Julian Borsani, directed by Christophe Van Rompaey, written by Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pat Van Beirs, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Patrick Peters, Drew Toal, Hank Sartin, Leo Goldsmith, John Anderson, Wesley Morris, Mattie Lucas, Michael Sragow, Tricia Olszewski, Chris Hewitt, Laura Clifford, Tony Medley, produced by Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, MPAA rating, single mother, ex-convict, domestic drama, kitchen sink, Flemish comedy, middle-class family, daily clashes, Amelie-like score, mature female strength, recovering alcoholic, traffic accident, wishy-washy husband, mid-life crisis, cleverly scripted, entertaining romantic comedy
Worldwide gross: $2,842,635
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,915,621
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,240
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 427,003
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jurgen Delnaet – Johnny
Johan Heldenbergh – Werner
Anemone Valcke – Vera
Sofia Ferri – Fien
Julian Borsani – Peter
Director – Christophe Van Rompaey
Producer – Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem
Writers – Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pat Van Beirs
Director(s)
Christophe Van Rompaey
Writer(s)
Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pat Van Beirs
Producer(s)
Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
13 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (3)
Involving domestic drama that lingers a little too long at the kitchen sink.
June 5, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Drew Toal
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
There aren’t many surprises%u2014the characters end up more or less where we expect them to%u2014but it’s useless and not at all fun to deny the simple pleasures of this film.
August 8, 2009
Leo Goldsmith
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
Director Christophe Van Rompaey has a script, of course, but much of what comes across so eloquently in this Flemish comedy of ill-manners is wordless.
May 29, 2009
John Anderson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The movie just can’t decide whether it likes romance or disdains it, whether it wants to be dark or bright.
April 23, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Van Rompaey constructs the film with a delightful sense of whimsy, accentuated by the Amelie-like score by Tuur Florizoone.
July 7, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Barbara Sarafian provides a full-bodied portrait of mature female strength as a mother named Matty in Moscow, Belgium.
June 12, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun
The film’s portrait of a middle-class family and its daily clashes, both major and minor, is spot-on.
May 28, 2009
Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper
There’s nothing special about the story in Moscow, Belgium. But the lead performance? Very special.
April 17, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4
Chris Hewitt
St. Paul Pioneer Press
…a terrific vehicle for Sarafian, an actress who proves that middle age can still be intriguing and sexy.
April 13, 2009 | Rating: B
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
A European-style chick flick where all the women are wonderful and the men jerks. Unlike the American genre, this is one men can actually sit through and enjoy
March 12, 2009 | Rating: 7/10
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com…
Plot
A single mother becomes involved with an ex-convict in Moscow, Belgium, in this low-key romantic drama.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Barbara Sarafian delivers an outstanding lead performance in Moscow, Belgium.
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