The Misfortunates

(2nd viewing) Filled with down to earth characters as well as funny and refreshing moments. The film suffers somewhat from lack of structure or an interesting plot but all in all, it's an enjoyable coming of age tale.

Didnt like it as much as most other people, its not bad at all, but neither is it as good as our (Flemish) media will have you believe

Very nice to see, especially because it's filmed here around the corner. Really loved to hear my dialect in a movie, but they didn't use it consequently, which annoyed me a bit. The story itself was very good, and it was filmed very well. It looks like a 2nd Belgian trainspotting, next to ex-drummer. A great film about the love and life of some no-lifes and a son trying to outrun his fate and become what others of his family never could. Nice to see, especially for Belgian ppl / ppl around Aalst

It was fine. An interesting portrait of a family, but boring to watch. lacked nuance. The humour is heartwarming I guess. Found it to be just another reworking of stereotypical portrayals of toxic masculinity, violent family honour, poverty, and alcoholism etc. etc.

Another story that hits close to my own environment (not family), the raw power of alcoholism and societal approval of it, which dribbles down to individuals or their families. It's quite an honest and sad portrayal of a dysfunctional brotherhood of drunks, wrapped in humorous layer of situational comedy and lightness of whole ordeal. And it works. Gives you food for thought without leaving your completely depressed, and happy ending helps, which would be quite rare in real life situation I gues

No story to carry the film.

Ülkemizde "Çölde Kutup Ayısı" diye gösterime giren filmin en güçlü yanı, 1980'lerin Belçika kırsalındaki Gunther'in şanssız, bol alkollü, tutunamayanların ortamında şekillenişi. Dram ile komedi dengesi güzel. Ayrıca büyümeyi reddeden Strobbe ailesine karşı bir büyümenin, oğulken baba olmanın hikayesi. Roy Orbison konseri sahnesi de akılda kalıcı... Ama film bir yerden sonra tekrara düşüyor ve yavanlaşıyor.

Recreates its setting lovingly, but doesn't develop any of the characters - not even the main character, of whom we see just two separated snapshots. The whole jumping between time periods feels unnecessary, as does much of the narration. Overall a bit of a drag to watch, sadly. EDIT: Having said that, it's been staying in my mind for quite a while already - and it still keeps popping up every now and then.

Mix of coming of age story with social study, mixed with a large dose of grounded humour. Some of it I liked, some of it I didn't. The specific comedy isn't really my style, though I enjoyed the general tone of the film. The setting is somewhat interesting, but the film overdoes the quirks. The characters are well drawn, but I didn't like any of them. With all it has going against it, it captured my interest much more than I could have expected, and I mildly enjoyed it.

Son sahnesi ayri güzel.

too redundant

A movie to my liking! Raw, realistic and energetic.

"One thing's for certain though: The director's vision of this story allows for more uncertainty than Gunther's ever would." - Christian Blauvelt

Pretty awesome. Well-acted/directed. Sometimes witty, and you can see how strong the family bond is