Maldoror

In 1995, Belgium is gripped by the disturbing disappearance of two young girls. The idealistic yet volatile gendarme Paul Chartier is enlisted in a covert surveillance operation called 'Maldoror' to monitor a suspect and his accomplices. When the police and judicial system fail him, Paul decides to continue the hunt alone. His dedication gradually morphs into obsession, placing immense strain on both his moral compass and his newlywed marriage.

Since Calvaire (FFG 2004), Fabrice du Welz has been making waves in Belgian cinema with his uncompromising, dark genre films. With Maldoror, the Brussels-born director delves deeper into the heart of evil and madness, crafting a policier-revenge fantasy. The film’s title references the malevolent figure from Comte de Lautréamont’s prose poem Les Chants de Maldoror. Du Welz draws inspiration from the highly publicized Dutroux case of the 1990s, which sent shockwaves through the country, spotlighting the scandal surrounding the faltering justice system and feuding police forces. The outrage and anger over the investigative failures fuel the societal trauma that du Welz illuminates with a dark lens. Surrounding himself with fresh and loyal talent, including editor Nico Leunen, composer Vincent Cahay, and cinematographer Manu Dacosse, du Welz continues to push boundaries. Anthony Bajon’s performance reinforces why he was awarded the Silver Bear in Berlin for his role in La prière (2018).

Du Welz has dedicated fifteen years to this first installment of an ambitious trilogy aimed at confronting the darkest aspects of Belgian history. The forthcoming films, Rubber - which explores the ruthless rubber exploitation in pre-independence Belgian Congo - and Rex - which examines Belgian collaboration with Nazi Germany on the Russian front - are in the pipeline. Known for his unflinching approach, du Welz’s Maldoror, which premiered out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, marks a significant turning point in his career.