Program Guide - Cleveland International Film Festival

PROGRAM UPDATES > www.clevelandfilm.org < TICKETS > Call 877.304.FILM FILMS A –Z 53
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Ben X
Directed by Nic Balthazar
BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS 2007
93 minutes
Friday, April 12 Saturday, April 13
4:10 PM I Code BENX12 9:25 PM I Code BENX13
Ben is a hero in his own mind. There he is not the student who
is bullied mercilessly at his vocational school. Nor is he the
person who can’t feel emotions like other people or talk about
the things they talk about. Ben is autistic. He moves awkwardly
and barely speaks, but his senses of sight and hearing are
painfully acute. Relief from the misery of school comes when
he escapes into his virtual world of Archlord, an online game
bearing more than a passing resemblance to World of Warcraft.
There, he finds a kindred spirit—a girl known as Scarlite—
who encourages him and heals his agonized soul. Ben’s longsuffering
mother and other ineffectual adults talk excessively
about ways to help the disturbed young man, but it’s apparent
that something in him is about to explode. The more his tormentors
abuse him in real life, the more Archlord steels himself
for the final battle. Much of the film takes place inside
Ben’s head, as director Nic Balthazar takes us via flashbacks
to Ben’s youth, then returns to the painful present. BEN X is a
visually astonishing fusion of Ben’s virtual and real worlds.
(In Dutch with subtitles) —B.B.
Producers~Peter Bouckaert, Erwin Provoost Screenwriting~Nic Balthazar
Cinematography~Lou Berghmans Editing~Philippe Ravoet Principal Cast~
Greg Timmermans, Laura Verlinden, Marijke Pinoy, Pol Goossen, Titus De Voogdt
Print Source~Film Movement / rebeca@filmmovement.com /
www.filmmovement.com
About the Director~Nic Balthazar was born in 1964 in Ghent, Belgium. In addition
to directing, he is a famous TV and radio personality in Belgium. He is also wellknown
for his environmental activism. Filmography~BEN X (2007)—31st CIFF,
“Time of My Life” (2012)
Beyond the Walls
(Hors les murs)
Directed by David Lambert
BELGIUM, CANADA, FRANCE 2012
98 minutes
Wednesday, April 10 Friday, April 12
4:10 PM I Code WALL10 7:35 PM I Code WALL12
One night Paulo is carried home drunk by Ilir, the handsome
bartender Paulo flirted with. An affair begins, exposing Paulo
to his girlfriend who abruptly evicts him. With nowhere to go,
Paulo shows up on Ilir’s doorstep. Ilir is hesitant, but Paulo
works his way into his home and life. They expand each other’s
worlds in passionate and unexpected ways. One weekend, Ilir
does not return from a trip. Paulo discovers nothing about Ilir’s
whereabouts until a letter arrives with shocking news. Ilir is in
prison for drug possession. Suddenly a love with no limits is
confined to one visit per week in a closely guarded room. With
intense and seductive performances, this film explores the
unexpected ways that life can test love. Ilir battles for survival
inside prison while Paulo struggles to survive outside it, falling
into another man’s arms to avoid life alone. When Ilir is
released, can they save what may no longer exist? Intensely
sexual, BEYOND THE WALLS is a moving exploration of love
and loyalty. (In French with subtitles) —C.R.
Producers~Jérôme Dopffer, Daniel Morin, Jean-Yves Roubin Screenwriting~
David Lambert Cinematography~Matthieu Poirot-Delpech Editing~Hélène Girard
Principal Cast~Matila Malliarakis, Guillaume Gouix, David Salles
Print Source~Strand Releasing / brandon@strandreleasing.com /
www.strandreleasing.com
About the Director~Belgian born David Lambert has directed and written short
films and co-written a screenplay. This is his feature film debut. Filmography~
BEYOND THE WALLS (2012)
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