Bullhead (2011)
"Rundskop" (original title)

A young cattle farmer is approached by a veterinarian to make a deal with a notorious beef trader.

Director:

Michaël R. Roskam

Writer:

Michaël R. Roskam (scenario)

Stars:

Matthias Schoenaerts, Jeroen Perceval, Jeanne Dandoy

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthias Schoenaerts	...	Jacky Vanmarsenille
Jeroen Perceval	...	Diederik Maes
Jeanne Dandoy	...	Lucia Schepers
Barbara Sarafian	...	Eva Forrestier
Tibo Vandenborre	...	Antony De Greef
Frank Lammers	...	Sam Raymond (as Frank Lamers)
Sam Louwyck	...	Marc DeKuyper
Robin Valvekens	...	Jonge Jacky Vanmarsenille
Baudoin Wolwertz	...	Jonge Diederik Maes
David Murgia	...	Jonge Bruno Schepers
Erico Salamone	...	Christian Filippini
Philippe Grand'Henry	...	David Filippini
Kris Cuppens	...	Jean Vanmarsenille
Sofie Sente	...	Irene Vanmarsenille
Kristof Renson	...	Stieve Vanmarsenille

Storyline

The young Limburg cattle farmer Jacky Vanmarsenille is approached by an unscrupulous veterinarian to make a shady deal with a notorious West-Flemish beef trader. But the assassination of a federal policeman, and an unexpected confrontation with a mysterious secret from Jacky's past, set in motion a chain of events with farreaching consequences. BULLHEAD is an exciting tragedy about fate, lost innocence and friendship, about crime and punishment, but also about conflicting desires and the irreversibility of a man's destiny.

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Plot Keywords:

stolen car | aftershave | car mechanic | farm | hormone | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong violence, language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Belgium] Official site [Japan]

Country:

Belgium Netherlands

Language:

Dutch French

Release Date:

17 February 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bullhead

Filming Locations:

Liège, Wallonia, Belgium

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$32,267 (USA) (17 February 2012)

Gross:

$42,070 (USA) (17 February 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Savage Film, Eyeworks Film & TV Drama, Waterland Film & TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (35 mm version) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Michael Roskam, his inspiration for the film was based on a crime scene in Belgium known as the Belgium Hormone Mafia.

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Quotes

Narrator: Whatever you do, and whatever you think, one thing you can be sure of: you're always fucked. Now, tomorrow, next week and next year, until the end of time. Fucked.

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Connections

Referenced in L'incertitude des choses (2013)

User Reviews

Oscar Material

I made an account solely for this movie, a true tragic, mesmerizing Movie. It really is a must see. I think it has a very high change being nominated for the Oscars as best foreign movie and maybe even winning it. Another reviewer posted something about silence moments in this movie but really, even without saying much, you can feel the pain and tragedy the main characters went through. Brilliant performance by Matthias Schoenaerts and , amongst others, Frank Lammers.

I do think however the spoken language might be a bit of a barrier for non-Flemish/dutch speakers because I feel that a lot of the words and sentences spoken here add to the drama; translation tends to loose that drama. (I can give a few examples but that would be a spoiler) I predict that this movie will be remade/re shot in English (pity) for a broader audience.

10/10 for me