Little Black Spiders (2012)

Directed by: Patrice Toye | 90 minutes | drama | Actors: Line Pillet, Charlotte De Bruyne, Dolores Bouckaert, Ineke Nijssen, Nathalie Verbeke, Martha Vandermeulen, Romy Louise Lauwers, Marjan de Schutter, Dorien de Clippel, Flor Faes, Sam Louwyck, Wim Helsen, Siska Bouwen, Sara de Bosschere, Francine Heuse, Lynn van Royen, Jan Livens, Charlotte Demulder, Indra de Bruyn

1978 in Flanders. Young pregnant girls are hidden from the outside world, because bringing a child into the world as a minor was a big taboo at that time. In the attic of a hospital in Lommel, the girls await their birth. Under the sisters’ supervision, they seem to want for nothing. But looks are deceiving. The girls must change their names and sign a contract stating that they are giving up their newborn babies for adoption. Young Katja is the newest in the group and hardly understands why she is so cut off from the outside world. Because Katja wants to go back to the real world and keep her baby. But she too has signed the contract, not knowing what consequences it will have.

‘Little Black Spiders’ sounds like a heavy movie, but it’s not that bad. Director Patrice Toye indicated in an interview that she also wanted to give her film a hopeful atmosphere. And to show that the girls also had fun together. The latter succeeded, but at the expense of the problems in ‘Little Black Spiders’, which seem to shift a bit to the background.

Toye initially made the film to bring the subject to light. In 1978 in Lommel there really was a department where pregnant girls were who had to give their child to childless couples. In fact, the department existed until 1982. Toye therefore does not seem to know completely which way she wants to go with the film and that is constantly noticeable.

In some scenes the distressing situation of the girls is clearly palpable. For example, when the head nurse explains to Katja that she will eventually forget the whole situation and move on with her life. The girls’ pregnancy is dismissed as an accident that can be easily solved without too serious consequences. On the other hand, Toye also makes the girls do typical adolescent things such as secretly smoking, meeting boys and having a good laugh. Because of the disjointed way this is alternated, you never really get involved with the girls and the seriousness of the situation doesn’t always get through. The character of lead actress Line Pillet also has to do with this. Pillet plays well, but her Katja is so naive that you let out a deep sigh when she once again doesn’t get things right.

In terms of atmosphere, ‘Little Black Spiders’ is more than once reminiscent of the Australian film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ by Peter Weir. That film was also about a group of young girls who lived together and some of them inexplicably disappeared. From a stylistic point of view there are also many similarities, such as the alienating atmosphere and the slightly erotic touch in scenes. Especially when the girls are all in the woods together. Toye exploits that erotic atmosphere by having girls kiss each other and showing them naked just too often. Scenes like this would have been much more mystical if Toye hadn’t shown everything. The heavy but somewhat sentimental ending also detracts from ‘Little Black Spiders’. At that moment, you as a viewer don’t really care what happens to Katja. Interest has already shifted to Charlotte de Bruyne who plays the feisty Roxanne.

Thanks to ‘Little Black Spiders’ we do meet a new generation of Flemish actresses, who will probably go far. The acting of the girls and the sometimes hypnotic atmosphere make the film. Still, Patrice Toye left a lot behind in ‘Little Black Spiders’. The intense subject is not sufficiently portrayed and Toye seems unable to choose between content and style.