Don’t Shoot (2018)

Directed by: Stijn Coninx | 139 minutes | drama | Actors: Jan Decleir, Viviane de Muynck, Mo Bakker, Kes Bakker, Jonas van Geel, Inge Paulussen, Louis Talpe, Elke Van Mello, Zita Wauters, Ann Tuts, Lucas Van den Eynde, Charlotte De Bruyne, Nico Sturm, Bert Haelvoet, Aziz Bouhkzar, Wouter Hendrickx, Tom Van Dyck, Alain Van Goethem

On November 9, 1985, the Bende van Nijvel strikes in Aalst, where they raided a Delhaize branch with excessive violence. The robbers shoot the father, mother and sister of 9-year-old David van de Steen. The boy himself barely survives. In 2012, his book ‘Don’t shoot, that’s my papa!’ with the title referring to his sister Rebecca’s last words. This true story is the basis for the film ‘None shooting’ by director Stijn Coninx, who previously directed films such as ‘Koko Flannel’ and ‘Daens’.

The story in the film mainly puts the perspective on David’s grandfather, Albert. In the attack he loses his only child and he, together with his Metje, is responsible for David from one moment to the next. This obviously has a big impact on Albert’s life and the film shows how he tries to make the most of it, while at the same time looking for answers and the culprits.

Albert is played by the Belgian great Jan Decleir, who once again shows how good he can act in this film. He makes Albert a layered person, who remains really searching how to deal with such a drama. Nowhere does Albert seem predictable or too one-dimensional; something that is a risk in a story like ‘Don’t Shoot’. In any case, the film stays away from too easy answers or solutions. The mystery of the Gang of Nivelles has never been solved and there are different stories going around. The Belgian Gendarmerie would be involved; the Gang actually had a more political goal than just “simple” robberies and there have been even more (conspiracy) theories. What the film does well is that it shows the most believable options, but nowhere offers certainty about the real facts. And that reinforces the actual theme of the film: how to deal with the frustrations of the lack of answers and opposing authorities.

A drama such as what happened in Aalst is terrible in itself, let alone that you as relatives cannot get an answer to anything. The feeling of powerlessness that lives with them can be felt throughout the film and that is the strongest point of ‘Don’t shoot’. That, combined with Decleir’s fantastic acting, means that the film gets under your skin and will not be forgotten so quickly.