Review: Crossroads (2012)

Director: Wouter Bouvijn | 28 minutes | short film, drama | Actors: Mieke De Groote, Tom De Hoog, Joren Seldeslachts, Lynn Van Royen

Anyone who is immediately nominated for the Student Academy Awards with their graduation film has a lot to offer. If you then, like Wouter Bouvijn, also win a bronze medal in the Foreign Film category, the path seems to have paved the way for a great career. Well-known names such as Spike Lee and Jaco van Dormael preceded him. The prize earned Bouvijn $ 2000. A pleasant surprise for the director who had to scrape together the money for his film project. As far as we are concerned, that place on the podium is deserved. With ‘Tweesprong’, the viewer is presented with a very mature and controlled print. And given the theme, that is no easy feat.

When Maxime returns home after a stay abroad, he arrives just in time to greet his father on his deathbed. An incurable disease eventually got him down. Moreover, it appears that the condition is also hereditary. For Maxime and his brother, a test is required to provide a definitive answer. The young man is clearly not in the mood for this. When he also has butterflies in the stomach things get complicated.

Films about illness can quickly turn into straightforward tearjerkers. However, Wouter Bouvijn skilfully avoids the corniness. Without too cheap tricks, he still manages to grab us by the scruff of the neck. A heavy theme is packed with sophisticated direction and fine accents. It is also nice that there is still room for hope. With Joris Seldeslachts he also has a convincing and impressive lead actor. Believe us, we will hear a lot from this couple.