Zwarte (Black) Kelly, now a blonde but for the rest still her old self, returns (temporarily?) to her roots after a New York adventure. Through her we're introduced to a group of people in their late-twenties, who previously formed a close circle of friends. Kurt (a former boyfriend to Black Kelly) and she have a son and a dog. Kurt's best friend Frédéric bows to the whims of his rich girlfriend. Nick is the party animal who hasn't changed one bit, and Patrick is just a reminder of times gone by. The return of Black Kelly works as a catalyst in the group: they reminisce, blow new life into their dreams, confront each other and expose feelings which have been concealed for years. In short, the searching characters are heading straight into conflict: with their past, each other, themselves and their ambitions.
The ambiguity which Kelly's return invokes is acted out strongly by the cast. Led by a fascinating Wine Dierickx (theatre group Wunderbaum and Maybe Sweden) the ensemble cast draws a template for a confused generation. Living in a dull provincial town, their existence seems to have shaped up nicely, but the arrival of Kelly sheds light upon the cracks in their enamel. Provincial town Sint-Niklaas serves as a background, and the emptiness of its ambitious city squares contrasts beautifully with the 'small' nature of the residents. The many aerial shots and images of roundabouts give the film a poetic layer and illustrate the quest that the characters are undergoing. Using strong dialogue, situations which are often very funny and a lively soundtrack (which combines piano with trance music) Felix van Groeningen outlines a strong portrait of young adulthood and the choices that go with it. Inevitably friends grow apart, a painful experience for the group circling Black Kelly, but due to the familiarity of the theme also for the viewer.
The ambiguity which Kelly's return invokes is acted out strongly by the cast. Led by a fascinating Wine Dierickx (theatre group Wunderbaum and Maybe Sweden) the ensemble cast draws a template for a confused generation. Living in a dull provincial town, their existence seems to have shaped up nicely, but the arrival of Kelly sheds light upon the cracks in their enamel. Provincial town Sint-Niklaas serves as a background, and the emptiness of its ambitious city squares contrasts beautifully with the 'small' nature of the residents. The many aerial shots and images of roundabouts give the film a poetic layer and illustrate the quest that the characters are undergoing. Using strong dialogue, situations which are often very funny and a lively soundtrack (which combines piano with trance music) Felix van Groeningen outlines a strong portrait of young adulthood and the choices that go with it. Inevitably friends grow apart, a painful experience for the group circling Black Kelly, but due to the familiarity of the theme also for the viewer.
