Only a person can not be happy: something always eats us, tortures us, eats us. I bought this film because: drama is a favorite genre, and Europeans, in my humble opinion, shoot the best dramas; and finally, just for aesthetic pleasure. I am thrilled by the beauty of Belgium and especially its capital. Whatever was shown there, I decided, even nonsense, at least I will admire Brussels.
But this film is not nonsense. I'm surprised he has such a low rating. Yes, “amateur” shooting on a video camera last day of life, where at first everything jumps and lubricates – the pleasure is below average. The embittered protagonist, who is driven on the topic of “life is shit”, and then grabs the heart, which with his own negative emotions and bothered, first causes dislike: he is to blame – as he will backfire, and will respond! And you can easily press the Off button, but I'm still being held by the views of Brussels.
“Isn’t it beautiful buildings?” asks Max about the sights of the city, in a short break between his gloomy outpourings, “if you think about their beauty, you can feel happy!”
“Yes!” – I want to shout to him – you live in one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, in a good house, in a bright spacious apartment, walk on clean streets, you certainly do not die of hunger, your car may not be the coolest, but quite decent. Shit food in the dining room? There are other options for lunch. You’ve never met a really bad person on public transport. Another would walk around and smile, enjoying life!
However...
On the last day of his life, he meets with people with whom he spent side by side for 20 years and who he deservedly or not quite, or even undeservedly, accused, humiliated. Yes, he is infantile, weak, he is a consumer. But there is something good in every person. “You have nothing to love,” said his ex-wife, who had always found the grass greener on someone else’s lawn. "You killed me, Carla." He loved her in his own way.
The feeling of hostility to the main character is replaced by a feeling of pity.
Yes, we humans are complex creatures: full life is not enough for us, and sometimes it is not the main thing. We need love, respect, recognition. Without them, even the most beautiful city on Earth and dinner in a fancy restaurant are not fun.
He's not entirely alone tonight. Next to him are two other people with whom he was brought together by an incident, whose life is not sugar either, perhaps even worse than his. But they do not think of suicide, and they have not even lost the ability to dream and smile. Perhaps the three of them need each other: they could support each other.
“I would be in his place, I would be in his place...!!!” – you begin to think.
Don’t judge a person for weakness.
7 out of 10