Belgian cinema flexes its muscles at Cannes

May 20, 2008 Two-time Palme d'Or winners Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, whose quiet drama "Lorna's Silence" unspooled Monday In Competition, are undoubtedly the highest-profile Belgian filmmakers in Cannes, but their compatriots are enjoying an unprecendented presence. The Belgian industry can boast two films in the Directors' Fortnight sidebar, Bouli Lanners' "Eldorado" and Joachim Lafosse's "Eleve Libre," plus three in Critics Week, namely Ursula Meier's "Home," Gregory Lecocq's "Harragas" and Bruno Romy, Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel's "Rumba." Compared to just one Belgian production selected for 2006's Cannes Competition and one in the 2007 Critics Week, a total of 11 titles produced in Belgium, short films included, are spread across the various sections of the fest this year.

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