A group of undocumented aliens are being transferred to Brussels airport in a van where they were to be deported on flights out of the country. The vehicle suffers an accident and the occupants see a way for liberation. No one is happier than Sonia, an Ukranian woman who was coming to Belgium to be with her husband, but got caught by immigration. The police arrives to search for the missing deportees, catching a few, but Sonia manages to escape.
Miguel, a Spaniard whose family emigrated to Belgium, is a single father who has not amounted to much. His house is a mess. He owes rent money to his landlord and he cannot pay. He works for Juan, his more prosperous brother, the owner of a travel agency that specializes in trips to warm places. Having to go to the airport, Miguel finds himself in a traffic tie-up. He decides to get off the road, driving over a recently planted corn field. He is not prepares to find Sonia hiding in his vehicle.
Thus this frantic comedy begins. A surprise Belgian entry, it is a sort of madcap comedy with shades of a roadie. Directed with style by Stephan Vuillet, the film showed recently on a French international cable channel. For its sake, the frantic pace of the film works wonders as it goes from one situation to the next at breathless pace. It examines the lives of immigrants to countries where work was plentiful with good standard of living. "25 Degrees in Winter" was shot in 2004, therefore, it does not reflect the downturn in the economic picture of Belgium, or Europe for that matter.
The screenplay is a collaboration by M. Vuillet, Pedro Romero and Stephane Malandron. The film is worth a look to watch Jacques Gamblin in action as Miguel. He gives an inspired performance that never stops. He is equally matched by Carmen Moura, playing his mother. Ms. Moura is a pleasure to watch because her performance never goes overboard. Sweet Raphaelle Molinier is seen as Laura, Miguel's daughter. Sonia is played by Lithuanian actress Ingerborga Dapkunaite.
Miguel, a Spaniard whose family emigrated to Belgium, is a single father who has not amounted to much. His house is a mess. He owes rent money to his landlord and he cannot pay. He works for Juan, his more prosperous brother, the owner of a travel agency that specializes in trips to warm places. Having to go to the airport, Miguel finds himself in a traffic tie-up. He decides to get off the road, driving over a recently planted corn field. He is not prepares to find Sonia hiding in his vehicle.
Thus this frantic comedy begins. A surprise Belgian entry, it is a sort of madcap comedy with shades of a roadie. Directed with style by Stephan Vuillet, the film showed recently on a French international cable channel. For its sake, the frantic pace of the film works wonders as it goes from one situation to the next at breathless pace. It examines the lives of immigrants to countries where work was plentiful with good standard of living. "25 Degrees in Winter" was shot in 2004, therefore, it does not reflect the downturn in the economic picture of Belgium, or Europe for that matter.
The screenplay is a collaboration by M. Vuillet, Pedro Romero and Stephane Malandron. The film is worth a look to watch Jacques Gamblin in action as Miguel. He gives an inspired performance that never stops. He is equally matched by Carmen Moura, playing his mother. Ms. Moura is a pleasure to watch because her performance never goes overboard. Sweet Raphaelle Molinier is seen as Laura, Miguel's daughter. Sonia is played by Lithuanian actress Ingerborga Dapkunaite.
