BRUSSELS BY NIGHT

Belgium, 1983, 90 minutes, Colour.
Francois Beukaeleurs.
Directed by Marc Didden.

Brussels by Night is a first film written and directed by Marc Didden. It is a grim slice of life focusing on a strange group of characters meet, interact with love, hatred, leading to death.

The film also focuses on seedier aspects of the contemporary European city. The film inquiry, its interactions, race prejudice, violence. It's being more experimental rather than an entertainment.

1. An interesting film? A debut feature film? Its effect?

2. Belgian film industry, production values? The focus on the contemporary Belgian city? The tour of the city by night and by day? The range of characters, locations? Musical score, songs?

3. The purpose of the film: the dramatising of a search, a focus on madness, kindness and cruelty, meaning in life?

4. The structure of the film: Max's awaking, the puzzle about the Russian Roulette, his going out? into the night, his meeting Alice and the relationship with her, the socialising, Abdul and the race tensions? The reunion with Louis, his daughter, the photography? The return home and, the truth about his killing his family? The dramatic impact of the ending and the resolution of the puzzle.

5. The portrait of Max, mad, erratic, waking up, ordinary situations, the transition to the Russian Roulette, the outing, the train, the cab and his treatment of the driver, going on a tour of the city, the visit to Louis, his daughter, meeting Alice, picking her up, Abdul? the flat, the meal and the party, sexual encounter, drive, the tour, the breaking of the camera, the killing of Abdul? His problems and the ultimate explanation? The police, the questions? The continual ringing home and the dead bodies there? The nature of madness?

6. Alice and her kindness, going out, sharing, the party, friendship with Abdul, response to his death?

7. Abdul and the presence of Africans in the European cities? As a person, his work as a tram driver, relationship with Alice, the truth, the fight, his death?

8. Louis and his friendship, memories, age, his daughter, photos, the outing, his excuses, his philosophising, the impact of the violence and the death?

9. The sketch of the police, their presence in the city, handling the case?

10. The facts and their ugliness; a journey of guilt? A fable on the meaning of existence?