Bullhead (film)

Bullhead

Theatrical Poster
Directed by Michaël R. Roskam
Produced by Savage Film
Written by Michaël R. Roskam
Starring
Music by Raf Keunen
Cinematography Nicolas Karakatsanis
Edited by Alain Dessauvage
Distributed by Kinepolis Film Distribution
Drafthouse Films
Release dates
  • 2 February 2011
Running time
 128 minutes
Country Belgium
Language Dutch
French
Box office $151,840 (US)

Bullhead (Dutch: Rundskop) is a 2011 Belgian drama film written and directed by Michaël R. Roskam and starring Matthias Schoenaerts. It tells the story of the young Limburgish cattle farmer Jacky Vanmarsenille, approached by an unscrupulous veterinarian to make a shady deal with a notorious West-Flemish beef trader. But the murder of a federal policeman, and an unexpected confrontation with a mysterious secret from Jacky's past, set in motion a chain of events with far-reaching consequences. The film is based on the murder of Karel van Noppen.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Foreign Language Film in 2012, but lost to A Separation. The film was shot in Dutch, mainly using Limburgish accents.

Plot

In a small town near the Belgian border, cattle farmer Jacky visits a distant relative and intimidates him into selling cows. In the local area, a mafia deals in illegal hormones and controls the cattle and meat trade. The farmers sell cows to the mafia, who inject the cows with hormones and the cows are made into food. We soon learn that Jacky is injecting himself with steroids intended for cattle.

A high-ranking member of the mafia sets up a deal with Jacky and brings his new associae Deiderik, who has something to do with Jacky's mysterious past. Deiderik is actually a police informant employed by police detective Eva, who is investigating the mafia. Deiderik is also gay. A mafia heavy takes a car to two mechanics and asks them to make it disappear. They find a bullet hole and see a news report about a murdered undercover cop and realise the car was involved.

20 years ago, Jacky and Deiderik are childhood best friends. Jacky's dad, also a cattle farmer, dealt with the mafia and brought the boys along to a deal. Jacky fell in love with Lucia, the daughter of one of the mobsters, whose psychopathic brother Bruno tries to prostitute her. Jacky's dad takes the boys home, but they ride their bikes back to see Lucia, only to be caught by Bruno. Bruno forces Jacky onto the ground and his friends gather around as Bruno smashes Jacky's testicles with two rocks, castrating him. Disgusted, Bruno's friends abandon him and Deiderik leaves as well. When Deiderik's father, another cattle farmer, finds out, he forbids Deiderik from saying anything, as it could ruin their connections with the mafia. Jacky is forced to begin injecting testosterone, or he will never go through puberty.

In the present, Jacky goes to a store and meets a salesgirl, who is actually Lucia. He begins occasionally stalking her and one night, he follows her to a club. As a drunk man flirts with her, Jacky watches. The man leaves the club and Jacky follows him, beating him into a coma thanks to a steroid-induced rage. Jacky begins dating Lucia, but she realises who he is and spots marks on his knuckles from beating the man senseless and leaves him. The police discover that Jacky is responsible for the murder of the cop and decide to raid his building in search of him.

Jacky attempts to visit Lucia, but she refuses to let him in and he almost breaks down her door, while apologising to her. He returns home, as the police arrive to arrest him. Jacky administers a huge dose of his testosterone and storms out of his apartment, where he attempts to beat three cops. He is shot in the stomach and dies from his wounds.

Cast

Release

The film was selected for the panorama section of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival.[1] It premiered in the United States at Fantastic Fest in Austin. Drafthouse Films acquired the rights to distribute the film in the United States where it opened on 17 February 2012 in a limited release.[2]

Reception

Critical response

The film has received generally favourable reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 87% based on 59 reviews.[3] Metacritic gives the film a weighted average rating of 69/100 based on 23 reviews.[4]

While criticizing the film's awkward flow due to its use of flashbacks, Roger Ebert praised the performance from lead actor Matthias Schoenaerts, noting that

"The one excellent aspect of the film is Matthias Schoenaerts' performance. We often follow him walking in a controlled lurch from side to side, as if merely walking is not enough of a challenge for him. We see his eyes, burning with pain. [...] [The film] impresses because of the pain, sadness and rage contained in the title performance by Flemish actor Matthias Schoenaerts, who bulked up for the role (without steroids), and seems ready to burst from his clothes and even his skin."[5]

Awards

Bullhead was awarded both the New Authors Audience Award and the New Authors Critic’s Prize for Best Actor (Matthias Schoenaerts) AFI Fest.[6] The film won the AMD-sponsored Next Wave Award at Fantastic Fest.[2] Matthias Schoenaerts won the FIPRESCI Award for best actor at Palm Springs International Film Festival. The jury praised the actor’s "superb portrayal of an innocent and sensitive man trapped in a truculent body."[7][8] It won the Best Film Award at the Ostend Film Festival, received nine Magritte Award nominations and went on to win the awards for Best Flemish Film in Coproduction, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (for Schoernaerts) and Best Editing.[9] The film also received the André Cavens Award.[10]

Bullhead was selected as the Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards.[11][12] It was officially nominated in this category on 24 January 2012,[13] but ultimately lost to the Iranian submission A Separation.

References

  1. ↑ Senjanovic, Natasha (14 February 2011). "Bullhead: Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Borders, Meredith (27 January 2012). "Oscar Nominated BULLHEAD Opening In Limited Release On February 17!". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Bullhead". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "Bullhead". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Bullhead – Roger Ebert review". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "AFI Fest 2011 Awards – Winners". 10 November 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  7. ↑ Pond, Steve (15 January 2012). "'Starbuck' Wins Top Palm Springs Fest Award". Reuters. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Matthias Schoenaerts Wins Best Actor Palm Springs International Film Festival". Positive Impact Magazine. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  9. ↑ Marsh, James (10 January 2012). "Bullhead bags 9 Nominations at Belgian Film Awards". Twitch Film. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  10. ↑ "Michael R. Roskam - Tête de bœuf". Flagey (in French) (Cinematek). Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Rundskop wordt Belgische inzending voor Oscars". De Standaard (in Dutch). 16 September 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  12. ↑ "63 Countries Vie for 2011 Foreign Language Film Oscar". oscars.org. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Oscars 2012: Nominees in full". BBC News. Retrieved 24 January 2012.

External links