klc-16

What is it about Belgian Directors? They manage to make films which are about working-class people, full of hard knocks and everyday misery... and yet, not only is there a joie de vivre between the lines, but sweetness and fun. The Misfortunates reminds me very much of the kind of films by the Frères Dardenne...La Promesse, Le Fils... sort of like Ken Loach, but without the total grimness of his vision.

The story is told from the point of view of a young man remembering his time as a thirteen-year-old... at the point where he is taken away from his family because of the degrading environment. I'm not going to go into a description of the film... simply to say that in all the films mentioned above, what shines out especially are the incredibly realistic performances...you totally forget that these are actors, and you learn something about the way "the other half lives", which may horrify you or disgust you, but somewhere in all that, their humanity wins you over. I find this to be a particularly Belgian trait...I can't think of any serious French films that have this capacity for realism, grittiness and humanity. And the ability to make you like something about all the characters, no matter how objectionable they might be for the most part. And of course, these days, there is nothing comparable coming from America, where everything is formulaic. (The closest I've seen to this kind of realism recently in American film is Winters Bone... which comes close but is too manufactured to work on a deeper level.)

The Misfortunates is not to be missed.

I honestly have to say that this is just about the worst movie I've ever seen. Oh, I suppose there was a B-level horror flick that MIGHT have been more awful...but at least THOSE films don't try and coast to oblivion on the wings of people of Minelli and Winters' status.

There is not a single person in this film that you believe or care abut for a second, specifically since they are cardboard clichés from every good film ever made. Totally predictable, lacking in charm, verve, innovation, wit or originality ... it doesn't even have the sense to be a parody.

I can't imagine how anyone on this site could have given it more than 3...the fact that there are only about 400 people who voted for it and around 18 people who bothered to make a comment shows you just how much of a flop this film is. Out of respect for those who wrote something nice here, I can only suppose that they are all related in some way or another to people who made or acted in this truly awful film. Someone called this "a bit of fluff"; more like a hairball...