‘Moscou’ is a densely populated working class neighbourhood on the outskirts of Ghent, Belgium. Matty, mother of three, bumps her car into a truck on the parking lot of a supermarket. Johnny climbs down from the cabin. He is infuriated by the dent in his front bumper and yells at Matty. Although impressed by the accident, Matty fights back with sharp words. Their discussion turns into a row, and the police have to intervene. Matty goes home, the trunk of her car dancing up and down. Back in her apartment, Matty takes a hot bath to recover from the afternoon’s emotionswhen the phone rings. It’s Johnny, apologizing for his behaviour on the parking lot. Matty tells him to stay out of her life. A dramatic comedy begins about a woman whose soul is full of dents and bruises.
A splendid little offbeat love story, Moscow, Belgium is a near-quintessential foreign art-house film: smart, sweet, intriguing, well-made and emotionally familiar while still unique.
– Tom Long,
Detroit News,
6 Mar 2009
fresh:
As Matty, Sarafian is a marvel as she changes from a gray moth to a girlish butterfly, and Delnaet is delightful as the slightly dangerous Johnny.
– Joe Williams,
St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
19 Mar 2009
fresh:
A romantic drama, interwoven with bright ribbons of humor.
– Colin Covert,
Minneapolis Star Tribune,
16 Apr 2009
rotten:
The movie just can't decide whether it likes romance or disdains it, whether it wants to be dark or bright.
– Wesley Morris,
Boston Globe,
23 Apr 2009
fresh:
Director Christophe Van Rompaey has a script, of course, but much of what comes across so eloquently in this Flemish comedy of ill-manners is wordless.