Calvaire (2004)
AKA: The Ordeal
Year: 2004
Directed by: Fabrice Du Welz
Starring: Laurent Lucas (Marc Stevens), Jackie Berroyer (Bartel), Jean-Luc Couchard (Boris), Brigitte Lahaie (Mademoiselle Vicky), Philippe Nahon (Old man at the end)
Country: Belgium; Effed Up Belgian Films; Effed Up European Cinema
Language: French (English Subtitles)
Runtime: 01:27:39
Genres: Violence Against-Relationships with Animals, Captivity-Kidnapping, CrossDressing, Gruesome, Rape-Sexual-Violence against Men, Torture
Plot – Spoilers:
A mediocre singer Marc Stevens earns a living and a feeling of success by performing at old age homes usually around festive dates. For the lonely sad people he entertains, his relative youth and vivacity is a welcome relief and something they yearn for and look forward to every year. After one such performance, Marc heads to the South of Belgium for another show but gets stuck on a rainy lonely stretch in the woods when his sputtering van gives up on him. A weird looking man who’s searching for his lost dog appears and guides him to the village inn where the old innkeeper Bartel, offers to help him fix his van the next day.
However Marc’s departure gets delayed in myriad circumstances with Bartel not in a hurry to let him leave while also desperate to convince him that they’re both artists. March puts this behaviour down to loneliness when he hears Bartel’s sad tale of his wife Gloria dumping him.
What Marc Stevens, the singing showman, doesn’t realize is that he is about to receive the kind of attention he never craved….
Laurent Lucas is one of this era’s finest and it’s hard to imagine anyone else conveying torment with such misery.
A film that captivates and draws you in, and on that point reminded me of Texas Chainsaw Massacre (and I note someone else commented on TCM). Brilliant acting, a simple but well executed plot with touches of dark humour and surrealism. Recommended. A strong 4/5 black and white Bella’s.
I’m wondering if the intent of this film is to portray the romanticizing and placing of Jesus upon a pedestal by those obsessed with him, whom might be imposing a status upon him with which he disagrees. Perhaps, in this portrayal, referring to Marc Stevens as “Gloria” could be a play on the term ‘glory’, in reference to the “glory of God.” Alternatively, instead of Gloria being a means to bastardize Jesus himself, the religious references may contribute to a notion of attributing God-like qualities to man (Marc Stevens), thus idolizing him, and not even for reasons in alignment with his identity, emphasizing on the delusion of those whom idolize.
They wanted him so bad at that nursing home lol he had them old lady’s underwear wet lol 😆 😂 I was laughing so hard… she said you dirty old bitch lol
Any folk seen Du Welz’ INEXORABLE by chance? Some intersting links to CALVAIRE 😉
I’ve watched this film 4 or 5 times and consider it Fabrice Du Welz most interesting work. What makes it so for me are the performances, even background players. There’s plenty of black comedy and even surrealism, but the film is a steady build of uncomfortable behavior and scenes from the start. It pokes at that nerve that made early 70’s grindhouse so gritty and tense. Nods to the original ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ and ‘Deliverance’ show the director to be a keen student and devout fan of the genre. My only complaint is the film feels a bit rushed at the end and I didn’t want it to stop!
Forgotten how good it is. And anything with Phillipe Nahon is always fecking ace .
A waist of time. i dont recomend at all. just dont even bother
This is the first film that I saw directed by Fabrice Du Welz. I’ve seen this one a few times and it is a great film. Many disturbing sequences, especially the scene in the bar. I checked out other films directed by Fabrice Du Welz. There is little information on the internet about most of these films and I was not able to find 4 out of 9 but the ones I watched are truly memorable. Here is a list of his films in order: 1. Folles aventures de Thierry Van Hoost (1997) This is an animated short film that I was not able to find much information about. I couldn’t even find out how long it is. I’d really like to see this one. 2. Quand on est amoureux c’est merveilleux (A Wonderful Love, 1999) Very bizarre 23 minute film. Available on the internet. 3. Calvaire (The Ordeal, 2004) A great film. 4. Vinyan (2008) This one must have been expensive and exhausting to make due to the locations which I believe were filmed in Thailand. It gets middle of the road reviews but I liked it a lot and appreciate the effort that went in to making it. 4 out of 5. Available on the internet. 5. Alleluia (2014) Even though I haven’t seen some of his other films, I will go out on a limb and say that this is his best movie. Very limited information is available about this film but I was able to find… Read more »
watched this movie a year ago and i cant stop thinking of it. the digusting taste it left in my mouth is incredible i love it
What a wonderfully strange film… The apple of my eye, and he was the apple… The tears were a river, and so were his… That Gloria had a lucky escape 7. 5/10
Amazing fricken Movie
Calling GLORRRIIIA ,Gloria,Gloria
I think they got your number
I think they got your alias, that you’ve been living under (Marc Stevens) ????
After the “act” you put the pig on the barbecue roast and voila:
It´s a famous belgian national dish – the Sodom Bleu. 😀
I remembered the song from somewhere (I’m Belgian, never seen the movie before) and it’s got a sticky melody.
Marc Aryan – Tu es bien trop belle ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so1wktIRW4o )
Very unusual movie, the fact that a guy is being tormented and hunted instead of a woman. U dont see many of this type and it has suspense and weirdness and overall I liked it and thought it was well done.
French movies are awesome!Thanks EUM.
wow that was a waste of time!
Strange film, feels like its packed with symbols and metaphors and that I’m missing a lot, but superb acting by Laurent Lucas!
Strange movie. I thought it was fabulous. I recommend.
yeah great film, totally whacked out story and characters, just the kind of shit I love… THANKS AGAIN EFFEDUP
the village is like something peculiar event that maybe happenned long time ago for singer named gloria. everytime marc sings it is similar like gloria. thats why those lonely oldman try to get him no matter it becomes another person.
Everytime he sings everybody wants to rape him.
Very nice movie. It get more and more tense as scenes get by. Poor Marc.
Great movie, very impressive for a first-time director. I’d highly recommend it to fans of atmospheric slow-burn horror films with a dab of metaphorical narratives.
I can definitely tell that this movie gets better with every subsequent viewing. Laurent Lucas’s performance is more than notable, and the film seems to be packed to the brim with metaphors and symbolism. I am very excited to analyze this film more, but for now, I can easily recommend giving it a watch.
First Impression: 7.9/10