Madly In Love

Source: Courtesy of Bergamo Film Meeting

Madly In Life

Laura Wandel’s drama Playground and Raphaël Balboni and Ann Sirot’s comedy drama Madly In Life tied as the top winners at Belgium’s Magritte awards on Saturday (February 12).

Both features won prizes in seven categories of the awards focused on French-language Belgian films. 

Madly In Life stars Jo Deseure and Jean Le Peltier as a couple dealing with the dementia of the husband’s mother.

It won best film, screenplay, actress, actor, supporting actor (for Gilles Remiche), production design and costumes.

Playground was Belgium’s Oscar best international film entry this year, making it into the longlist but not the final shortlist. It won best first film and director.

Its cast was also feted in three categories with Laura Verlinden winning best supporting actress while best female and male hopes went to Maya Vanderbeque and Günter Duret. The feature also won best sound and editing.

Best Flemish production went to Teodora Ana Mihai’s Mexico-set kidnap drama La Civil, which debuted in Cannes Un Certain Regard in 2021.

Best international co-production went to Julia Ducournau’s Palme d’Or winner Titane, which also won best cinematography for Ruben Impens.

The ceremony took place in Brussels for the first time in two years after the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Films from 2020 and 2021 were in the running for the awards as a result.