Zwarte (Black) Kelly, now a blonde but for the rest still her old self, returns (temporarily?) to her roots after a New York adventure. Through her we're introduced to a group of people in their late-twenties, who previously formed a close circle of friends. Kurt (a former boyfriend to Black Kelly) and she have a son and a dog. Kurt's best friend Frédéric bows to the whims of his rich girlfriend. Nick is the party animal who hasn't changed one bit, and Patrick is just a reminder of times gone by. The return of Black Kelly works as a catalyst in the group: they reminisce, blow new life into their dreams, confront each other and expose feelings which have been concealed for years. In short, the searching characters are heading straight into conflict: with their past, each other, themselves and their ambitions.
The ambiguity which Kelly's return invokes is acted out strongly by the cast. Led by a fascinating Wine Dierickx (theatre group Wunderbaum and Maybe Sweden) the ensemble cast draws a template for a confused generation. Living in a dull provincial town, their existence seems to have shaped up nicely, but the arrival of Kelly sheds light upon the cracks in their enamel. Provincial town Sint-Niklaas serves as a background, and the emptiness of its ambitious city squares contrasts beautifully with the 'small' nature of the residents. The many aerial shots and images of roundabouts give the film a poetic layer and illustrate the quest that the characters are undergoing. Using strong dialogue, situations which are often very funny and a lively soundtrack (which combines piano with trance music) Felix van Groeningen outlines a strong portrait of young adulthood and the choices that go with it. Inevitably friends grow apart, a painful experience for the group circling Black Kelly, but due to the familiarity of the theme also for the viewer.
