Vidange perdue (2006) User Reviews

An old man's quest for dignity

[raymond-massart · 9/10 · 8 January 2007]

The title "Vidange Perdue" is a Belgian expression which is best translated as "empties are not refunded"Like stray bottles that end up in the trash, old people are often regarded as a cumbersome burden and best disposed of in a discreet and efficient fashion. "Senior citizenship" ( the word itself is basically a convenient euphemism for the grim reality of old age) is a topic our present society tends to avoid as it doesn't correspond with the actual and commercially induced unrealistic belief that life in general is a never ending joy ride. Those aspects of the human condition which have obvious negative connotations have become uncomfortable topics and not many producers or directors are tempted to deal with these issues for fear of disappointing box office results. All the more reason to acclaim the venture of Geoffrey Enthoven & Jaak Boon who contrary to the actual trends have produced a movie that focuses more on content than on aiming at a cheap form of appraisal. This movie is the story of an old man who can't accept that he's growing older and who revolts against the absurdity of life. To an outsider he's just another grumpy eighty-year-old who is often extremely cantankerous and obstinate and of little or no interest at all. What others fail ( or don't even bother) to see is that this man cannot accept the fact that there is a constant negation by others of his own unique personality and that the elderly in general are constantly patronized by their immediate surroundings as if they suffered from an ever increasing form of dementia. Lucien Knops' struggle against all these preconceived notions regarding old people is courageous but also comical at times as is illustrated by his letters of pure outrage to the newspaper and his attempts at amorous escapades.A real turning point in his life is his encounter with his neighbor. This lady not only prompts him to go on being his true self but opens doors for him to the future which he himself would never have thought of unbolting. When at the end of the movie he visits his favorite grand child in Paris, he knows the future will remain uncertain. He sees himself on a long voyage or maybe even spending his remaining days as a tramp. Whatever the future holds in store, he will confront it as he himself: the unique Lucien Knops. The movie was filmed in short alternating scenes and all the actors, without exception, deliver a high quality performance.

Old is not dead

[annmoncarey · 9/10 · 29 May 2006]

Jacques Boon is the writer of the sugary filmscripts about old people that were filmed by Lieven Debrauwer. Both 'Pauline and Paulette' and 'Sweet Jam' ('Confituur') he wrote together with Lieven Debrauwer. This time he wrote the script with the director of 'Vidange Perdue', Geoffrey Enthoven. And this proves to be the right combination. No sugar is left, realism is added, and the result is a much better film than the films of Debrauwer which were full of kitsch and cheap sentiment. Here we get sarcasm and irony instead, without leaving the viewer with a negative feeling. The film deals with an old man, named Lucien (Nand Buyl), whose wife died recently. He and his wife were married for 55 years. Lucien doesn't seem to be sad. He lives with his daughter, who is also married and who has a daughter herself. But though he's only been living there for a couple weeks, his daughter can't stand his lifestyle. Lucien goes out for a drink once in a while, and comes home drunk and wasted. It doesn't take long before he goes back to his own house, to live on his own. But Lucien is an old man and accidents will happen. Lucky for him one of his neighbors is a woman who also lives on her own. She's much younger and want to help Lucien to build a new life. Much to the dismay of his daughter, who thinks Lucien belongs in a home for the elderly. She wants him to sit still and die so she can have his money and buy. Of course there's much more to the story. Geoffrey Enthoven tells it all with a sense of humor, with a heart, the same way he did that with 'Les Enfants de L'Amour', a film about dysfunctional families and children whose parents were divorced. Enthoven succeeds in being emotional without being sentimental. He makes us think and delivers films that doesn't stink. The opposite is true. To get the right mood for his film he gets a lot of help from Tom Kestens, who as Lalalover, composed the excellent and fitting music. Nand Buyl, an 83-year old theater-actor who was a television-star in Belgium 50 years ago, will never have dreamed to get such a beautiful present at the end of his acting-career. Also the ladies who star opposite him are wonderful. This is a film about old age, but people of all ages will enjoy it and will be moved by it.

Warm and humane

[kurt-149 · 9/10 · 25 June 2006]

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.