“Being in the moment has rarely been so exhilarating.” - Tim Grierson, Screen International
“A modestly proportioned movie of quiet magnificence, one that feels spun of gossamer summer light and rooted in unshakeable depths.” - Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter
Saturday, March 2, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 3, 3:45 p.m.; Wednesday, March 6, 6:15 p.m. | In Bas Devos’s unassuming HERE, a Brussels construction worker prepares to return home for the holidays, perhaps never to return to his urban lifestyle. Before he leaves, he makes a soup out of the leftover ingredients in his fridge. Delivering servings of soup around the city, he bids goodbye to family and friends whom he may never see again. On a rainy day, quite by chance, he meets a woman studying microbiology, specifically bryology—the study of moss, and the two form a particular, poignant bond. Shot on 16mm and arguably the most romantic movie of the year (spoiler alert: no one consummates anything), HERE is a lyrical, peaceful, and enchanting meditation on the little things: the grass beneath our feet, the act of sharing a meal, the small pleasure of catching up with a friend. In a world where things are loud and complicated, Devos offers a soothing balm…and a bowl of soup.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Encounters Award, Berlin International Film Festival
Winner - FIPRESCI Prize, Encounters, Berlin International Film Festival
Chicago European Union Film Festival - Spotlight on Belgium: Join us this year as we dive into the best of Belgian cinema new and old. Presenting Chicago audiences with a potent cultural immersion and showcasing bright new native talents alongside a slice of repertory favorites. View full festival.
The Film Center thanks the consulates, consuls general, and cultural institutes of the European Union in Chicago and their embassies in Washington, D.C., for their support, partnership, and collaboration. Special thanks to Paul M. Van Halteren, president of EuroChicago and Honorary Consul of Belgium in Illinois, and our 2024 Belgium Spotlight partners:
European Union Center w/European Union Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through support from the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI NRC Program.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu