Left Bank (2008) Linkeroever (original title)

Director:

Pieter Van Hees

Writers:

Christophe Dirickx (writer)
Pieter Van Hees (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

26 March 2008 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

When Marie moves into her boyfriend's apartment, she uncovers a disturbing mystery.

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Full Frontal Female Nudity | Rebirth | Sudden Disappearance | Newspaper Clippings

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Eline Kuppens	...	Marie
Matthias Schoenaerts	...	Bob
Sien Eggers	...	Bieke
Marilou Mermans	...	Jeanne
Frank Vercruyssen	...	Gilbert
Robbie Cleiren	...	Dokter Verbeke
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ruth Becquart	...	Hella
Tinneke Boonen	...	Tinneke - loopster 2
Sara De Bosschere	...	Veerle
Jamahl Boukriss	...	Verkoper (as Jamahl Boukhriss)
Siska Bouwen	...	Katrien
Gauthier De Boulle	...	Baby dream
Tom De Wispelaere	...	Dirk
Darya Gantura	...	Dunja (as Darya Kuznetsova)
Bert Haelvoet	...	Agent Bob
Raymond Haesaerts	...	Boogschutter Frank
Waléra Kanischtscheff	...	Vlad (voice)
Manou Kersting	...	Krabbeke Slijk
Gunther Lesage	...	Postbode
Luc Nuyens	...	Ostheopaat
Victor Peeters	...	Stem politieman (as Vic Peeters)
Stefan Perceval	...	Agent Eddy
Alain Pierre	...	Vader van Marie
Anja Smolders	...	Anja
Liesbeth Stas	...	Klant
Marie Telter	...	Baby
Ryszard Turbiasz	...	Vlad
Peter van den Eede	...	Conciërge (as Peter van den Eeden)
Teun Verbruggen	...	Live band
Mark Verstraete	...	Archivaris
Mauro Pawlowski	...	Live band (uncredited)

Directed by
Pieter Van Hees

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christophe Dirickx		writer
Dimitri Karakatsanis		writer
Pieter Van Hees		writer

Produced by
Peter De Maegd	....	line producer
Bert Hamelinck	....	producer
Kato Maes	....	producer
Frank Van Passel	....	producer

Cinematography by
Nicolas Karakatsanis

Film Editing by
Nico Leunen

Production Design by
Johan Van Essche

Costume Design by
Judith van Herck

Makeup Department
Diana Dreesen	....	makeup department head
Saskia Verreycken	....	prosthetics designer

Production Management
Ivy Vanhaecke	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddy Stevesyns	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Bert Aerts	....	sound editor trainee
Mathieu Cox	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jan Deca	....	sound
Toon Echelpoels	....	boom operator
Senjan Jansen	....	sound
Alexis Oscari	....	foley recordist
Olivier Thys	....	foley artist
Joeri Verspecht	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Bert Deruyck	....	digital compositor

Camera and Electrical Department
Gaetan De Poorter	....	second assistant camera
Tim Janssens	....	gaffer
Jan Lemmens	....	grip
Toon Nelissen	....	electrician

Editorial Department
Koen Maenhout	....	telecine operator
Olivier Ogneux	....	colorist
Bruno Pons	....	assistant editor
Leslie Verbeeck	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Peter Deuss	....	production accountant

Production Companies

• Caviar Films
• Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds

Distributors

• IFC Films (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij (VTM) (2008) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• 8-Films (2011) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Cinemax (2010) (Hungary) (TV)
• Exposure Cinema (2010) (UK) (DVD) (DVD, Blu-ray)
• Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (2008) (Belgium) (all media)

Also Known As:

"Linkeroever" - Belgium (original title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Belgium

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA (TV rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Deurne, Belgium

Company:

Caviar Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in L'incertitude des choses (2013)

Well-acted, moody story fails to deliver something new or scary

A kind of Rosemary's Baby meets Dark Water, Left Bank unfortunately has more in common with the latter's fascination with mood over a new or just tightly cogent story. Left Bank is better than most J-horror remakes but takes too long to get to the genre trappings it ultimately relies on. The lead, Eline Kuppens, is believable as an athlete and is competent in her acting but doesn't have any real screen charisma. The role really requires the European counterpart to a Mia Farrow or Naomi Watts, especially in the long opening section which plays more as a psychological thriller than horror film. That too is a problem: the story, which is neither terribly new or frightening, just takes too long to admit for all its psychological tension, it's nothing more than a horror pic. As such, it fails to deliver a truly quirky scenario and strikes out totally when it comes to real scares.