Gilles (2005)
"Buitenspel" (original title)

Gilles, a 12 year old boy from the Brussels region, is a football (soccer) player. His dream is to become a member of the Belgian National Squad, the so called "Red Devils".

Directors:

Jan Verheyen, Pieter Van Hees

Writers:

Frank Ketelaar, Ed Vanderweyden

Stars:

Ilya Van Malderghem, Joke Devynck, Filip Peeters

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ilya Van Malderghem	...	Gilles
Joke Devynck	...	Anne
Filip Peeters	...	Bert
Pauline Grossen	...	Emma
Peter Bulckaen	...	Joris
Willy Manzi Kabera	...	Désiré
Kris Piekaert	...	Mark
Ninke Gryp	...	Lies
Dirk van Dijck	...	Commissaris Willems
Warre Borgmans	...	Dr. de Vlieger
Hans de Munter	...	Dr. Kaaiman
Stany Crets	...	Trainer Provinciale Ploeg
Stan Van Samang	...	Trainer ploeg Gilles
Peter Van den Begin	...	Scheidsrechter
Félicité Mukazibera	...	Oma Désiré

Storyline

Flemish greater Brussels grocer Bert transferred his true passion, aiming for the national football (soccer) team, missed due to a knee injury, to his eager son Gilles (12), whom he coaches tirelessly. Excessive anger at the referee during the match when a scout may select Gilles for the provincial team, a crucial step, proves fatal for Bert's heart. Gilles is frustrated that both the grocery shop and his mother gradually are taken over by football-ignorant accountant Joris and imagines still being coached by father. His own foot injury will either delay his ambition at a crucial or may end it altogether if not treated properly.

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Plot Keywords:

football | foot injury | boys' soccer | shower | friendship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | Sport

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [be]

Country:

Belgium

Language:

Dutch

Release Date:

21 December 2005 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Gilles

Filming Locations:

Dendermonde, Belgium

Box Office

Budget:

€2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Menuet Producties, SCOPE Invest

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of In Orange (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Im weißen Rößl"
Music by Ralph Benatzky

User Reviews

A poor experience

I got to see the movie on the avant-premiere and got there with mediocre expectations. From what I've seen earlier from Jan Verheyen, director of 'Buitenspel', I think he's representable as the average Belgian movie maker: he works with weak story lines, decent filming and acting. Belgian movie industry isn't doing well.

The film itself only confirmed what I was expecting from it. The plot was never surprising and kind of cheesy, the acting was good enough, and the camera work disappointing. As I had participated in this film as an extra in the crowd, I noticed there had been some severe cutting in the material that was made. Quite a shame.

To summarize: Verheyen does nothing more than delivering a film that deserves nothing more than a 5 out of 10, with some terrible cheesy moments, some nice scenes, but with an awful plot of which the quality only goes downward as the ending approaches.