The Broken Circle Breakdown

In select theaters
November 1^st 2013

112 minutes

Dutch

Belgium
Netherlands

Punky Elise runs a tattoo shop. Cowboy Didier plays banjo in a bluegrass band. When they meet, it’s love at first sight. When they move into a homey old farmhouse where their daughter Maybelle is born, their happiness is complete. But when a crisis strikes the hopeful new family, these two very different lovers are forced to fight for their marriage together. Elise finds comfort in religion, while Didier clings to the here-and-now, and the two find their love and faith tested as they drift farther away from each other, grasping for moments of connection amid their rousing country concerts. Flemish director Felix van Groeningen follows up his acclaimed Cannes entry The Misfortunates with this powerhouse melodrama. Cutting between moments in time in an increasingly sophisticated play with linearity, van Groeningen weaves together and ultimately fuses the highs and lows of one tragic romance in a timeless tale of star-crossed lovers. Winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, The Broken Circle Breakdown is an epic, crowd-pleasing, tear-jerking, one-of-a-kind musical romance.

92% on the CINEMETER

93% - Nov 3, 2013

Romantic, yes. . .dramatic, yes. Amazing how well Didier captured the ethos of Appalachia AND then lived it. Quite a film. A brilliant and poignant portrayal of the ultimate heartbreak and its tragic aftermath. Hardly sugarcoated, but when the viewer can hardly bear the pain, humor and music and past vibrant times are introduced to temper it. Superb acting, directing and photography.
Washington, DC Member

Sweet, sassy and sad. Wonderfully heart-wrenching! Only thing else that the movie could have done to make it more of a theatrical success was to provide kleenex! Emotional roller coaster fueled by joyous music and unbearable tragedy. Very touching.
Washington, DC Member

This one hit me hard! Shamelessly manipulative, brilliantly created, more powerful than anything I've seen in a long time - editing was GREAT. In my opinion, the editing is in some ways reminiscent of "Let it Burn" to disjoint the narrative for great emotional impact. Painful, but a terrific film. Wonderful acting and beautiful use of music and weather. I usually don't like films that bounce back and forth in time, but here it kept up the tension.
Washington, DC Member

A perfectly made film from start to finish! I wanted to say the film was about the music - had it brought them together, kept them together, and then helped them lose their connections as time went on - but it was so much more than that, so never mind. . .
Washington, DC Member

STL

98% - Oct 13, 2013

Human grief cannot be overestimated and can overtake extreme joy. Loved the way the politics was developed and exploded. I rarely can answer the question, “What is your favorite…? I now can answer “favorite movie.” This one.
St. Louis Member

Cinematic exploration of how life is incredibly complex and essentially elemental at the same time. The fragmented chronology mirrors the very nature of human experience: past, present and future exist in our mind all at the same time. Intense, primal acting.
St. Louis Member

I recommend a complimentary box of Kleenex upon entrance to the film. I appreciate any film that breaks down my ability to save face—my heart was broken. The symbolism was layered and brilliantly woven throughout. The silence in the film was just as emotive as the part awash with music.
St. Louis Member

I have never seen a film that transitions so clearly and creatively from past to now to future and now to past to future. Thanks to the creators of the film for the scenes of joy interspersed with those of pain.
St. Louis Member

92% - Oct 20, 2013

Poetic - What is more important, the now or the forever? Do you need to believe in the forever to live the now?
San Francisco Member

A very difficult film to watch but very well done. Brings on so much emotion that it wears you out.
San Francisco Member

Extremely effective use of out-of-sequence narrative and the tensions and ambiguities it created. Tremendous emotional connection throughout, heightened by the music. However, it didn't need the stem cell issue interjected toward the end.
San Francisco Member

What a refreshingly non-Hollywood treatment of a difficult subject. Superb editing.
San Francisco Member

87% - Oct 6, 2013

The circular foundation was deftly constructed on multiple levels -- thematic, time, visual, audio -- each reinforcing the other to support the whole and enhance the emotional and film's impact.
Greater New Haven Member

This is a fantastic movie!! I was particularly impressed by the fact (at least in my view) that the film provided such a powerful woman's perspective.
Greater New Haven Member

Excellent use of flashbacks and music to create a powerful story of triumph and tragedy. Extremely emotional.
Greater New Haven Member

Goes for the heart and soul and gut and never lets go! While the United States has ground to a standstill, the idea of America is preserved in the hearts and minds of dreamers everywhere. Right to live, right to die. So much depth. Profound.
Greater New Haven Member

What an incredibly well-done movie! It is definitely a tearjerker but justifiably -- it is so true to life. It reveals the parts of life we rarely see made public. The actors were remarkable -- especially the child. Music was great. Kudos all around!
Greater New Haven Member

MIL

89% - Nov 10, 2013

This was very well done but so raw it was physically painful to watch.
Milwaukee Member

An excellent emotional experience.
Milwaukee Member

Loved it!
Milwaukee Member

ATL

91% - Nov 10, 2013

Pretty close to perfection--deeply felt, never maudlin, so surefooted with its non-chronological narration
Atlanta Member

Strongest film of the past two seasons. Intensely human. The conflict of reason and emotion and structure and art was so beautifully and painfully portrayed.
Atlanta Member

I had a lump in my throat throughout much of this movie. It was worth it!! It will be with me for a long time. It is so interesting to see how American lore and politics permeatse the rest of the world--both positively and negatively.
Atlanta Member

OMG: so many issues of life were covered--birth, love, song, sorrow, death, moral issues, values, commitment and meaning
Atlanta Member

Tribeca Film