The Broken Circle Breakdown (2014) is a Belgian movie, so great that it not only the official selection of the country to Oscar but it also nominated for Best Foreign Film. It was based on a play by Johan Heldenbergh who also plays as Didier. The movie plot goes non-linear, showing different scenes in each their phase of life, combined and blended nicely.
“I always knew. That it was too good to be true. That it couldn’t last.”Not everyone is lucky enough to be in love. But everyone is not Didier and Elise (Veerle Baetens). Didier plays Blue Grass (sub-genre of Country) music with his band and Elise makes tattoo for a living. They fall in love naturally. As both started their own path as lovers, they also fall in love with blue grass music. Elise spontaneously add herself as the vocals and it continues from there. Out of the blue, Elise is pregnant which makes Didier shocked. But later he finishes his house to make better home for the baby.
The baby is born and they named her Maybelle, but sadly she’s diagnosed for cancer after her sixth birthday. Didier and Elise faced the complications their daughter have, while digesting the future they might have if Maybelle isn’t there. Their differences of spiritual view rises and challenged their relationship.
What makes The Broken Circle Breakdown memorable is the way Didier and Elise together as a couple. They might be eccentric as their own individual, but their love for one another was true and their intimacy is what many people longing for. And it was shown to the way they treat each other and their daughter affectionately. Suddenly these two lovers becomes parents, responsible parents who would do anything for their child. One might envy them for keeping their passion alive (playing band) while having a simple harmonious family.
But in every life, there must be obstacles and problems. When Maybelle is diagnosed for cancer, their relationship is tested. It reveals how their view life and death. Aside from being romantic, Didier is an atheist who believes anything and everything is dead after they passed away. Despite of being a realist, Elise views the spirits of one who passed away still ‘alive’ in a different form. This different angle makes them constantly fighting and shattered their foundation of relationship.
It is always has been potentially a deal breaker, whether one realized it or not, about religious views in a relationship. Especially when you want to have a family together, how you view on things must be aligned and equated. Perhaps some couple can ultimately learn together how to face these differences, but some can’t because it’s their principles. Didier seem to be a strong atheist, despite his simplicity and modesty. And it’s a contrast to Elise who still believes in God, though she might not look like a strong believer. She does wear a cross necklace in her neck, that she passed on to Maybelle, while tell her to grab on it if she feel lost and scared.
The Curse of Falling in Love (SPOILER ALERT, read at your own risk)
When Maybelle passed away, each Elise and Didier faced battle within themselves on why their child must be taken away from them. Then Elise said, that life is not generous and that everything (about them) was too good to be true. Simply, that nothing’s too good for long when you’re in love. Well, this is a common thought after facing the bitterness of life. But I firmly think that it is not that simple. I just mainly believe that even after you found someone you love, you still have to work for it.
What I learn from being in love is whether you make problems as an obstacle, and so you unattached yourself from the strings. Or, you change yourself, simply because your belief (that might be wrong) isn’t as worth it as your relationship. If you feel that the obstacle is too big and you can’t face it your whole life, than you can say ‘Bye, bye’.
SPOILER ENDS
You won’t feel sick seeing Didier and Elise in love, because it felt real. I love how they make the story non-linear but doesn’t confuse us. Their simple lives are far from the ambitious and busy city life. Their performances go along with how sweet the couple are together. Sometimes the music and their expressions tell themselves without any narration needed. Also how the band always show their support for Didier and Elise with their music.
As for the vague ending, it’s a brilliant touch to leave your imagination works. I am a firm believer that everything will sort itself and they will find a way. People can change everyday.
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