Until Always (2012)

Directed by: Nic Balthazar | 121 minutes | drama | Actors: Koen de Graeve, Geert van Rampelberg, Lotte Pinoy, Iwein Segers, Eva Van der Gucht

Former film critic – or ‘film fan’, as he preferred to see it described – Nic Balthazar made the kind of Flemish film with ‘Tot always’ that lies somewhere between art cinema and commerce. On the one hand, the true story about politician Mario Verstraete, who is diagnosed with MS at a young age and then fights for euthanasia legislation in Belgium, is used to bring tears to the public, but on the other hand the film is ruthless about the fate of the politician. and the changing lives of those around him. The danger of a film that tries to be both skilfully artistic and accessible to the masses is that it goes wrong everywhere. The fact that this does not happen with ‘Tot always’ is mainly due to the strong lead roles of Geert Van Rampelberg and Koen De Graeve. They rise above the rest of the cast so much that it sometimes struggles to keep up, but this saves the film. De Graeve is almost painfully striking as Mario Verstraete, and above all extremely human, which greatly benefits the portrait. Van Rampelberg is at least as good as his best friend and also a doctor and fierce opponent of euthanasia.

In the film, there is a battle on several levels. By fixating on Van Rampelberg and De Graeve – who are thus both best friends and political opponents – director and screenwriter Balthazar has managed to maneuver his film nicely towards the art house audience, although with the comical note of debutant Iwein Segers and the straightforward straight forward storyline is also commercial gain.

Leaving aside a few weaknesses like the music and the opening scenes, ‘Until forever’ is a striking and human portrait of a politician who fights for his right to decide his own end. Well written and beautifully worked out; a nice tribute to the Flemish politician.