The Ordeal (2004)
"Calvaire" (original title)

A singer's car breaks down deep in the woods.

Director:

Fabrice Du Welz

Writers:

Fabrice Du Welz, Romain Protat

Stars:

Laurent Lucas, Brigitte Lahaie, Gigi Coursigny

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurent Lucas	...	Marc Stevens
Brigitte Lahaie	...	Mademoiselle Vicky
Gigi Coursigny	...	Madame Langhoff
Jean-Luc Couchard	...	Boris
Jackie Berroyer	...	Bartel
Philippe Nahon	...	Robert Orton
Philippe Grand'Henry	...	Tomas Orton
Jo Prestia	...	Fermier Mylène
Marc Lefebvre	...	Lucien
Alfred David	...	Roland (as Alfred David-Pingouin)
Alain Delaunois	...	Gáant
Vincent Cahay	...	Stan Le Pianiste
Johan Meys	...	Rosto
Romain Protat	...	Figurant Dans Le Bar
Damien Waselle	...	Figurant Dans Le Bar

Storyline

A few days before Christmas, traveling entertainer Marc Stevens is stuck at nightfall in a remote wood in the swampy Hautes Fagnes region of Liège, his van conked out. An odd chap who's looking for a lost dog leads Marc to a shuttered inn; the owner gives Marc a room for the night. Next day, the innkeeper, Mr. Bartel, promises to fix the van, demands that Marc not visit the nearby village, and goes through Marc's things while the entertainer takes a walk. At dinner that night, Bartel laments his wife's having left him, and by next day, Marc is in a nightmare that may not end.

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Plot Keywords:

van | woods | singer | inn | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Some people would kill for company.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Belgium France Luxembourg

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 March 2005 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

The Ordeal

Filming Locations:

Bullingen, Belgium

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$635 (USA) (6 October 2006)

Gross:

$2,623 (USA) (6 October 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

La Parti Productions, Tarantula, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Laurent Lucas' audition for the role of Marc lasted 45 minutes as he performed the scene where Marc puts on his show makeup and extended out the scene as though it were a real event.

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Goofs

"ELECRTICITE" is spelled during the end credits instead of "ELECTRICITE" (Electricity)

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Crazy Credits

The pig can be heard squealing one last time at the very end of the credits.

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Connections

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

User Reviews

just saw it at the TIFF

Wow...the other review is nuts. This movie was fantastic!

I got a chance to thank the director (in french) after the film. The lighting was unbelievable, the acting was great, the directing was great, and the script was fantastic. Definitely not for the weak of stomach...pretty gory and painful at times, but let up with some hilarious moments (ie. the dance). They shot on super 16 which gave it an incredible grainy quality...very 1980s sci-fi/horror (which i liked). It was very dark with extremely high contrast, and some beautiful locations. The end seemed like a bit of a let-down at first, but the more i think about it the more i like it. (won't give it away though).

Suffice to say it was gorgeously shot, great cast/crew, and a interesting take on insanity and love. The director described it as a 'love story'...ermmm...yes? with a crucifixion...and pig buggery...

anyways, I would LOVE to see this get a release (without a re-edit), or at lest a distribution deal. It really deserves it.

-cheers,

claire