The Broken Circle Breakdown
2012 · Movie · Not Rated · 112 min · ★ 7.7 · 77% critics
A married couple of musicians are drawn together by love and shared music, but their young daughter’s illness puts their relationship under unbearable pressure. As grief strains their beliefs and their bond, they struggle to hold onto faith, forgiveness, and understanding in the face of extreme loss.
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Details
- Years
- 2012
- Release date
- 2012-10-09
- Language
- Dutch
- Rated
- Not Rated
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 77/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.7/10 (1,130 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this deeply moving, music-driven relationship drama if you want honest emotions and challenging grief, but Not for you if you need a lighter tone or prefer a more linear story like Rabbit Hole or Blue Valentine.
Pros: emotionally raw story; powerful performances; beautiful music | Cons: relentless heartbreak; heavy flashbacks; uneven clarity
Themes
- tragedy
- 9/11
- tragic romance
- death of a child
- powerful
Awards & recognition
- César Award — Best Foreign Film · 2014
- European Film Award — Best Actress · 2013
- Lux Prize · 2013
- Satellite Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 2013
- Academy Award — Best International Feature Film · 2014 · nominated
Show all 15 awards →
- César Award — Best Foreign Film · 2014 · nominated
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2014 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Film · 2013 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Actor · 2013 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Screenwriter · 2013 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Director · 2013 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Actress · 2013 · nominated
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award — Best European Film · 2013 · nominated
- Lux Prize · 2013 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Foreign Language Film · 2013 · nominated
Cast & crew
Veerle Baetens
as Elise
Johan Heldenbergh
as Didier
Nell Cattrysse
as Maybelle
Geert Van Rampelberg
as William
- NC
Nils De Caster
as Jock
Robbie Cleiren
as Jimmy
Bert Huysentruyt
as Jef
Jan Bijvoet
as Koen
Blanka Heirman
as Denise
Directed by Felix van Groeningen