Not to say 'Vidange Perdue' is not an entertaining movie, it certainly is, but in the first place it's the kind of film which makes you a better human being. It makes you think about life. Is it so serious then? No, but while as well being funny and touching, it's also thought-provoking: what are we doing to our parents and grandparents? Do older people have the right to have a second life? Can they still have sex? Can they live on their own? Do we put everyone in a home as soon as they aren't capable anymore to fully take care of themselves? Serious questions which raise automatically after having seen 'Vidange Perdue', a story of a man who recently lost his wife. Now he lives with his daughter, who's also married and has a child of her own. This grandchild is the one understanding the man the best. Yes, he's old and he drinks and he complains and is bitter and gives her a hard time. But if she would take a closer look, she would find out that he isn't dead. It's up to other women to discover the life in Lucien Knops. The wife of his best friend (Vivianne De Muynck) and his young female neighbor (Marijke Pinoy). He is played by Nand Buyl, an 83 year Flemish actor who until now has mainly played in the theater and in television-series. This part is a true gift for this living legend. He should thank the young director Geoffrey Enthoven on both knees for giving him such an opportunity. Enthoven on the other hand, whose first film 'Les Enfants de L'Amour' also was a delight and a small lowbudget film on humanity and the lack of it, should realize he couldn't have done the film without Buyl. Nand Buyl is Lucien Knops and is wonderful. And so is every other actor in the film. Again a low budget film made as a TV-movie and upgraded for the big screen. Upgraded because this film is big and everyone who wants to spare himself from spending too much time in finding out how life works should see this film. Cause it can learn you a lesson. Don't be afraid, though this film has many messages, it's certainly not the kind of film with a message. It's just that it isn't afraid to deal with some true-life issues, while telling a story in a funny and sincere way, a story in which every human with a heart will be able to recognize himself. The music from Tom Kestens and Pascal Garnier helps to add the right tone to what we can call a depressing feelgood movie or a delightful tragicomedy.
Review of Vidange perdue
