Vinyan
France, United Kingdom, Belgium
2008
96 Min
Color
2.35:1
English, Thai
Synopsis
Devastated by the loss of their son, Joshua, in the tsunami of 2004, Paul (Rufus Sewell) and Jeanne Belhmer (Emmanuelle Béart) have remained in Thailand. Glimpsing a boy who looks like Joshua in video footage from a village of orphaned children on the Thai-Burmese border, Jeanne becomes convinced that her son was kidnapped by traffickers and clings frantically to the hope that he has survived. Unwilling to shatter his wife’s last hope, Paul remains skeptical as she throws their money at a sinister smuggler who promises to take them by boat into pirate-infested waters to find their son. As they continue their quest through the dark jungle, the traumatized couple is pulled into a primeval hell created by their own obsessions and mutual desperation for some sense of closure.
Inspired by the little-seen 1976 horror film, Who Can Kill A Child? from Spanish director Narciso Ibañez Serrador. —IMDb
Director
Fabrice Du Welz
Fabrice Du Welz (born on 21 October 1972 in Belgium) is a Belgian film director and screenwriter.
Du Welz studied at the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Liège and at INSAS, a film school in Brussels. In the 90’s he directed many films in Super 8 and wrote humorous sequences for Canal +. His first shot film was the short film “A Wonderful Love” in 1999 who won a prize at the Fantastic’Arts. He has directed two feature length films since 2004: Calvaire which was screened at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, and three years later in 2007, Vinyan that competed in the Venice Film Festival competition.
Calvaire starred Laurent Lucas and Jackie Berroyer, and Vinyan was filmed in Thailand and starred Rufus Sewell.
Du Welz is currently working on the film “The Island at the thirty coffins” based on the work of Maurice Leblanc. His future project, “For Your Entertainment” (originally intended to be titled More), will star Brady Corbet. It is also the first US film for Du Welz… read more
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Displaying 4 of 9 wall posts.
Justin Oakey
18Jan12
"Vinyan" is quite slow and meditative, focusing mainly on the psychologies of its main characters, rather than the mysterious circumstances that seems to consume them. The first half of the film is manic and sweaty, the second is steamy and eerie. Deep jungle, rain storms, fires, feral children, and ancient temple ruins punctuate the story and make it a unique little film.
Westley
19Dec11
This did not impress me when I saw it. That was a couple of years ago though, and I kind of want to see it again to see if it improves upon a second viewing.
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Mathias Palmberg
21Apr12
I just watched Vinyan for the second time and it does improve a lot the second time around. I too was a bit underwhelmed the first time.
Rashed
7Jun11
one of the most brilliant evocations of location ever put to film - vinyan wears antichrist's ominous atmosphere on its sleeves and is ever so beautiful for it. like antichrist, it leads with a couple's odyssey to find their presumably dead son in the aftermath of the tsunami. but really, what lies at the heart of a grieving woman is violent, destructive and oddly serene all at the same time.
Mathias Palmberg likes this
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Articles
Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
Fabrice Du Welz hits London for a VINYAN Q&A - plus see it for FREE!
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Anyone who’s seen Vinyan, Fabrice Du Welz’s follow-up to the fabulously bonkers Calvaire, may well wish to ask the Belgian director a thing or two about it (probably in a rather stern voice). Well now’s
Fantastic Fest 2008: Vinyan, Seventh Moon, South of Heaven
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
…
TIFF Review: VINYAN
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
There is a scene in Fabrice Du Welz’s new film where the white folks, stranded in the jungle without guide or means, are viciously ridiculed, teased and denied the simplest of sustenance: a small ball
TIFF Review: VINYAN
By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Without any doubt at all Fabrice du Welz’s Vinyan has been one of the most anticipated films of the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival amongst genre film fans. Du Welz has a proven track record as
Fabrice Du Welz hits London for a VINYAN Q&A - plus see it for FREE!
By Twitchfilm.net on July 17, 2010
Anyone who’s seen Vinyan, Fabrice Du Welz’s follow-up to the fabulously bonkers Calvaire, may well wish to ask the Belgian director a thing or two about it (probably in a rather stern voice). Well now’s
TIFF Review: VINYAN
By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
Without any doubt at all Fabrice du Welz’s Vinyan has been one of the most anticipated films of the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival amongst genre film fans. Du Welz has a proven track record as
TIFF Review: VINYAN
By Twitchfilm.net on July 16, 2010
There is a scene in Fabrice Du Welz’s new film where the white folks, stranded in the jungle without guide or means, are viciously ridiculed, teased and denied the simplest of sustenance: a small ball
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Displaying 3 of 3
Pas mal
By Benoît on August 18, 2011
Quand un cinéaste belge estime qu’on peut faire autre chose que du cinéma social, c’est un bon début. Quand en plus le garçon s’essaie au genre fantastico-horrifique, on se dit que ça peut valoir le… read review
VINYAN : UN PASEO POR EL LADO SALVAJE
By VENIMOS LOS JODIMOS Y NOS FUIMOS on March 14, 2010
Vinyan, la segunda cinta del director belga Fabrice Du Welz es una de esas cintas que pudieran parecer, en una primera instancia, y sobre todo durante los primeros minutos de proyecciòn, uno de esos… read review
His spirit becomes angry; his spirit becomes … Vinyan
By jaredmobarak on March 3, 2010
Right from the opening credits, Vinyan leaves you uncomfortable and excited for more. When the titles are completed, the screen continues to show a close-up of bubbling/choppy water, the tint changing… read review
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