13-year-old Gunther Strobbe grows up surrounded by alcohol, trash and his completely useless father and uncles. Slowly but surely, he's being prepared for the same hapless life. Can he defy his destiny?
An appalling childhood may risk making you an unhappy person when you grow up, but it almost guarantees a great yarn.
– Michael O'Sullivan,
Washington Post,
30 Apr 2010
fresh:
There's whimsy and raunchy humor here, but also an underlying sense of darkness and despair.
– Steven Rea,
Philadelphia Inquirer,
3 Jun 2010
rotten:
The Misfortunates is a bleak comedy that's not as funny or grim as it needs to be.
– Wesley Morris,
Boston Globe,
10 Jun 2010
fresh:
A bawdy, heartfelt glimpse into a proudly dysfunctional Belgium family.
– Douglas Pratt,
Hollywood Reporter,
14 Jun 2010
fresh:
If Ken Loach and Roberto Benigni went into a bar, drank themselves into a stupor and emerged the next morning with a screenplay, it might look a lot like The Misfortunates.