The Broken Circle Breakdown (Dutch, DVD)

Director Felix Van Groeningen's Academy Award-nominated, heartfelt drama charts the love story between a Belgian couple who soon find their love tested to the limits. Based on the stage play by Johan Heldenbergh and Mieke Dobbels, the film tells the story of the highs and lows in the life of Elise (Veerle Baetens), who owns her own tattoo shop, and Didier (Heldenbergh), who plays the banjo in a Flemish bluegrass band. In spite of major differences, the pair fall in love at first sight, going on to enjoy an idyllic lifestyle singing together in the band, and leading a life of rustic simplicity in the Flemish countryside. Not long after, their happiness appears to be complete with the birth of their daughter, Maybelle (Nell Cattrysse). But when Maybelle later becomes gravely ill, Elise and Didier's differing responses to the crisis throws their relationship into turmoil and places a question mark on their future together. The movie received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.