critics consensus

A low-key delight, Moscow, Belgium enlivens its fairly standard story with sharply drawn characters and an outstanding lead performance from Barbara Sarafian. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

A weary single mother (Barbara Sarafian) becomes involved with an ex-convict (Jurgen Delnaet).

Genre:

comedy, romance, drama
Original Language:

Dutch
Director:

Christophe Van Rompaey
Producer:

Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem
Writer:

Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Pat Van Beirs
Release Date (Streaming):

Oct 11, 2016
Runtime:

1h 42m
Production Co:

A Private View

Cast & Crew

Barbara Sarafian
Matty

Jurgen Delnaet
Johnny

Johan Heldenbergh
Werner

Anemone Valcke
Vera

Sofia Ferri
Fien

Julian Borsani
Peter

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Moscow, Belgium

All Critics (40) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (3)

Involving domestic drama that lingers a little too long at the kitchen sink.

June 5, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Patrick Peters
Empire Magazine
Quote not available.

November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Drew Toal
Time Out
Quote not available.

November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Hank Sartin
Time Out
There aren't many surprises%u2014the characters end up more or less where we expect them to%u2014but it's useless and not at all fun to deny the simple pleasures of this film.

August 8, 2009 | Full Review…

Leo Goldsmith
indieWire
Director Christophe Van Rompaey has a script, of course, but much of what comes across so eloquently in this Flemish comedy of ill-manners is wordless.

May 29, 2009 | Full Review…

John Anderson
Washington Post
The movie just can't decide whether it likes romance or disdains it, whether it wants to be dark or bright.

April 23, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
Van Rompaey constructs the film with a delightful sense of whimsy, accentuated by the Amelie-like score by Tuur Florizoone.

July 7, 2019 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Matthew Lucas
From the Front Row
Barbara Sarafian provides a full-bodied portrait of mature female strength as a mother named Matty in Moscow, Belgium.

June 12, 2009 | Rating: 3/4

Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun
The film's portrait of a middle-class family and its daily clashes, both major and minor, is spot-on.

May 28, 2009

Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper
There's nothing special about the story in Moscow, Belgium. But the lead performance? Very special.

April 17, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4

Chris Hewitt
St. Paul Pioneer Press
...a terrific vehicle for Sarafian, an actress who proves that middle age can still be intriguing and sexy.

April 13, 2009 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
A European-style chick flick where all the women are wonderful and the men jerks. Unlike the American genre, this is one men can actually sit through and enjoy

March 12, 2009 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

Tony Medley
tonymedley.com

View All Critic Reviews (40)

Audience Reviews for Moscow, Belgium

Jul 03, 2013

An interesting take on the old romantic comedy formula, that follows the playbook fairly faithfully. But still, the idea of a younger man and an older woman as played by these actors made it work for this viewer. Both Matty (Barbara Sarafian) and Johnny (Jurgen Delnaet) are volatile characters and when these two collide (literally) sparks definitely fly. Matty's husband has been shacking up with his 22 year-old lover, but isn't willing to cut his ties to Matty. And Johnny is a recovering alcoholic who has been in trouble with the law in the past. Matty seems caught between a rock and a hard place and whenever she seems ready to choose which direction to move, complications arise. This viewer was deeply invested in seeing Matty find the happy life she once swore she would have. A solid supporting cast and a solid story helped but I credit the two main actors on a terrific performance.

Mark A Super Reviewer
Jun 19, 2012

A disillusioned 40-ish mother of three is battling with a husband who wants to leave their family, indeed, has already left, when she meet a charming truck driver with a very ugly past. A romantic comedy with bad teeth as neither of these characters are of Hollywood-lite stereotypes, but their flaws are what make this a different movie, a realer one.

Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
Jan 26, 2010

Not often I got to see a good Belgium movie, but this one was new fresh and funny. Matty, a frustrated mother of three who has been abandoned by her husband for a younger girl and who not only wondered what her life was all about but mostly what the future holds in for her now that she had reached 41. Her encounter with a trucker Johnny during a traffic accident made a turning point in her life. Johnny felt attracted to Matty who was 12 years older then him. As the story unfold we learned that Johnny had a past and drinking problems and that what made the story more interesting. Barbara Sarafian's portrayal of Matty was excellent.She was a real woman,she cared about her age, her looks, her responsibilities, her future and her feelings.Jurgen Delnaet who played Johnny succeeded brilliantly in portraying the trucker in search of a strong woman who will guide him on his way.The dialog was natural and so was acting of the whole cast.

Daisy M Super Reviewer
Jan 16, 2009

Charming little film about a woman trying to balance her family life and a wishy washy husband going through a mid life crisis who is suddenly rejuvenated by a chance encounter with a handsome truck driver. A cleverly scripted and entertaining romantic comedy.

Matthew L Super Reviewer