Manneken Pis (1995) User Reviews

Overlooked gem from Flemish speaking Belgium

[barev-85094 · 10/10 · 26 March 2016]

Manneken Pis, Flemish, 1995. Director Frank van Passel, starring Frank Vercruyssen. Viewed at Rouen Nordic Film Festival, 2007. During the 1990s the Flemish language cinema in Belgium experienced what might be called a minor Golden Age when one gem after another was produced featuring a bevy of excellent local actors. Largely overlooked outside of Belgium itself. One outstanding Flemish drama of the nineties is "Mannekin Pis", directed by Frank van Passel in 1995. This one was not completely overlooked, winning the Prix de la Semaine de la Critique at Cannes in '95 and also selected as the best Belgian film of the year in 1996. "Manneken Pis", (little boy urinating), is a famous landmark in Brussels but the film does not take place there. The reference is to the key incident in the film when the hero, as a young boy, asked his parents to stop at a railroad crossing so that he could relieve himself by the side of the road. An onrushing train killed the entire family and the boy, Harry, woke up in an orphanage the next morning, having lost all his hair. This traumatic experience has left Harry, now a young man with a shiny bald pate, unable to express his feelings. He falls in love with a warm hearted pixie-like tramway conductress, Jeanne (Antje de Boeck), who happens to live in the same tenement building as he does. Their difficult relationship is overseen by the salty old widow, Denise (Ann Petersen), who is the concierge of the abode and watches over Jeanne like a mother hen. After many false starts, just when it looks like Harry will finally break out of his trance and will be able to reciprocate the love offered him, Jeanne who has a weak heart, dies in his arms. An extremely touching love story, again superbly carried off by all performers, also featuring Frank Vercruyssen as Harry in a truly memorable character creation by an actor one wants to see more of. Ps: This review dedicated to the victims of Islam in Brussels.

true love never dies

[frank vandenblock · 9/10 · 12 February 2002]

one of the most touching love stories ever to come out of Belgium, Manneken Pis is the touching story of two people who try to life and love their lives despite their background and past. Great actors, beautifully shot, and the feelings of the main characters are brilliantly acted. If you liked 'Amelie Poulain', you should try this little movie. !

Beautiful atmosphere

[Metin_7 · 6 October 2004]

I have to admit that I haven't even seen the whole movie, but watched some television late at night and while zapping the magical photography of Manneken Pis caught my attention. From that moment the dreamy pictures and the atmospheric musical score of the movie kept fascinating me. The cute lead actress Antje de Boeck is filmed in such a tender way that it feels as if the whole crew had fallen in love with her. A very charming movie that steals your heart.

Beautiful film, beautiful actress

[Marc Bouwens · 9/10 · 28 November 2001]

One of the best Belgian movies ever, featuring one of the best belgian actresses: Antje de Boeck. Very moving comedy/drama of a female tram-driver who falls in love with a bashful guy who blames himself for the death of his parents. Also a surprising soundtrack from rocksinger Stijn Meuris.

A streetcar almost called desire

[s-maurer · 9/10 · 31 October 2006]

I saw this movie at a cinema and loved it from the beginning: This mystical Belgian romance centers upon a young man who is unable to utter the three little words his girl friend most wants to hear. Harry, a young man who boards a streetcar driven by pretty Jeanne. She instigates a romance between although she finds him emotionally distanced and unable to commit to her. He would like to get closer. Twinkle in their eyes. This is how it could have been for them and how Harry and Jeanne would have wanted it to be, yet we all know that love comes either too early or too late, but never at the right moment.

After the film, I went home by tram - unfortunately it was not Jeanne driving - Sight.

Beautiful...

[Carlo Silvera · 10/10 · 30 March 2000]

Manneken Pis is one of the best European films ever made. All the characters are so plain and true to life, and yet so charming and interesting and... well, beautiful that I find it hard not to fall in love with one of them. Camera work is brilliantly done and provides the film with a surrealist glow. Although there is some deep grieving in the film (Harry's past is very sad, as well as Denise's) there is so much subtle and less subtle humor that Manneken Pis (also the name of a small but famous statue in Bruxelles that waters on passing traffic) is not depressing. I find everything about this film great, but still I'd like to give extra credit to Antje de Boeck, Ann Petersen and especially Frank Vercruyssen, whose looks and personality are heart-melting. Director Frank van Passel and writer Christophe Dirickx have done a marvellous job.

a love story with a touch of surrealism

[Dirk · 15 July 1999]

This is a very funny movie, not because of jokes or situation comedy, but because all characters are a bit over the top, bordering on surrealism. Actually, they only tell incredibly corny jokes, which is completely in character for them, and therefore funny on another level.

Favourite scene: only in a Belgian movie can a man sitting at a completely ordinary table and eating a completely ordinary dinner look so heartbreakingly pitiful.