La Merditude des Choses or The Shittiness of Things as it was called in the US.

I had thought this movie was going to be funny but it wasn’t. It was kinda sad and pathetic and quite gross at times too.

The story follows a young Belgian (Flemish) boy growing up in a small town, living in poverty, trying to make the best of his life living in the same house with his alcoholic father, 3 loser uncles, and loving grandmother.

The whole family is a bit of a disaster. The boy was conceived after his parents had a quickie out the back of a pub. The mother didn’t want anything to do with the kid so he was living with his father and grandmother who was like a mother to him. His father and 3 uncles are all losers without jobs, money, wives, girlfriends so they all end up living with their mother where she does everything for them while they get drunk and yell and fight.

It was kind of exhausting to watch. I just can’t relate to this kind of film and how people can be so stupid and cruel. At one point, the father realizes he’s an alcoholic who needs help so he goes into rehab. Good for him. He comes out of it a different man, much healthier and happier, with plans for the future. Then his brothers get angry with him for refusing to go to the pub and have a good time with them. They pushed him and pushed him until he gave in and that was the end of his sobriety. Nice.

Movie #: 7