When I saw this movie on a Friday night in Brussels's largest cinema, the theatre was almost empty. We were there with about eight or ten other people. It's clear that My Queen Karo is not a crowd pleaser. That's a pity, because this film is well-written, poetic and beautifully filmed. The subject, the life of a young family in a squatter's community in Amsterdam in the seventies, is interesting enough. But the thing that makes this film something special is the point of view: the story is seen through the eyes of a young child, who doesn't really understand everything that is happening around her. The way this dreamy, naive child reacts to the conflicts around her (including those between her parents), is what makes this film stand out. Nevertheless, there were a few things I didn't like. The fact that the father is Dutch-speaking while the mother speaks French is a nice statement about bilingual Belgium (their home country, as well as director Van den Berghe's) but doesn't serve any purpose in the film. I suspect that the possibility to obtain financing from the French-speaking government played a part in the decision to make the film bilingual. In any case: Deborah François, who plays the mother, is a joy to watch. Matthias Schoenaerts on the other hand (the father) is sometimes over-acting.
8 Reviews
A movie about the 70's that isn't a cliché for once
MdlndeHond6 September 2010
Shortly after Karo and her parents Raven and Dalia join a squatters community on the Amsterdam Wallen to live a life without boundaries nothing is certain. Raven shortly after picks up a relationship with a fellow activist while Dalia is trying to make a life for herself. The community itself has their own issues like trying to get by without getting evicted. Within this turmoil Karo has to find her own way. By getting her swimming diploma for one. She receives help from soft natured prostitute Jacky who is a oases of calmness to her.
For many directors the theme of free love community is an excuse for softcore porn and luckily that didn't happen here. It's a realistic portrait, entertaining, nothing overly dramatic, the 70-ies atmosphere for once not overdone and a great cast. Thank god we're spared the same old soundtrack. But most mentionable : no stereotypes, no secret hidden judgements on morals & last but not least the marvellously played Karo and off course success ingredient Matthias Schoenaerts. If you enjoy this theme, try Tillsammans(Together) as well.
For many directors the theme of free love community is an excuse for softcore porn and luckily that didn't happen here. It's a realistic portrait, entertaining, nothing overly dramatic, the 70-ies atmosphere for once not overdone and a great cast. Thank god we're spared the same old soundtrack. But most mentionable : no stereotypes, no secret hidden judgements on morals & last but not least the marvellously played Karo and off course success ingredient Matthias Schoenaerts. If you enjoy this theme, try Tillsammans(Together) as well.
poetic, sensitive and brilliant acting
sunatzenith17 May 2010
This is far most the best Flemish film in years! It is mature in every sense whereas other Flemish films tend to look for extremity or genre. This film flows like summer breeze and has the nostalgia of a loved memory. The script is somehow the weaker point sometimes, but its well compensated by a brilliant cast. Up front of course we have the adorable Anna Franciska, but the true star of the movie is again Schoenaerts who seemingly effortless shifts from character to character in every movie and he does with the ease which mark the truly great actors. Also Deborah François is a delight to watch although her part is a little underwritten. Anyway this is a must see for lovers of honest and poetic cinema.
seen from a female point of view
wvisser-leusden8 February 2013
'My queen Karo' is good, in the first place by the convincing performance of its minor female star. To be more precise: given the role she has to play, loaded with lots of adult relationship-complications, her performance is stunning.
This performance surely makes the backbone of 'My queen Karo'. Apart from that, well, its picturing of left-side Amsterdam in the year 1974 is fairly adequate. Being an Amsterdam-resident in 1974 myself, I think it all a little too beautiful & idealistic.
Another prominent feature of 'My queen Karo': this film obviously is produced by a woman. Which shows in the heavy emphasizing on relationship-problems, in the non-erotic way nudity is shot, and, of course, in the strong focusing on the minor girl Karo.
When you are ready for parameters like this, you surely will enjoy 'My queen Karo'.
This performance surely makes the backbone of 'My queen Karo'. Apart from that, well, its picturing of left-side Amsterdam in the year 1974 is fairly adequate. Being an Amsterdam-resident in 1974 myself, I think it all a little too beautiful & idealistic.
Another prominent feature of 'My queen Karo': this film obviously is produced by a woman. Which shows in the heavy emphasizing on relationship-problems, in the non-erotic way nudity is shot, and, of course, in the strong focusing on the minor girl Karo.
When you are ready for parameters like this, you surely will enjoy 'My queen Karo'.
When parents fight for their own lives, what can a 10 years-old choose best for her.
Reno-Rangan14 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The movie was partially based on the director's own story. Which took place when she was a young girl in the early 70s who lived in Amsterdam hippie community with her parents and others under one roof. It tells about her experience she witnessed in her childhood where she was free to share everything and from everyone.
As a child to a father whose life was dedicated to the hippie community and to a mother who was passionate about her career in fashion designing Karo was left alone which creates an arrogant behaviour within her. Karo's mother battles for saving her husband and marriage while her father's concern about another thing. The different field of interest in her parents, their relationship begins to tear apart which affect her the most.
From the 10 years old Karo's perspective, she sees everything that every child is forbidden to see. Adults are making free love especially her father Raven with a fellow activist Alice in the presence of her and her mother. That confuses her in human relationship and behaviour so instantly Karo fall in love with her stepbrother and when he was taken away she feels the pain in her heart. That leads her to make aware of her parent's failure to take care her. The little girl who played Karo was very good in handling her role in those particular scenes.
The nudism in the movie was quite strong but it won't feel like some porn movie, it all counts on the way you take it on. The movie's moral was on the environmental circumstances like this what could a child can become or made by seeing the adult's behaviour. This movie was not a bad at all, it was directed very well by the director Dorothee and told everything she saw in her child's eye.
8/10
As a child to a father whose life was dedicated to the hippie community and to a mother who was passionate about her career in fashion designing Karo was left alone which creates an arrogant behaviour within her. Karo's mother battles for saving her husband and marriage while her father's concern about another thing. The different field of interest in her parents, their relationship begins to tear apart which affect her the most.
From the 10 years old Karo's perspective, she sees everything that every child is forbidden to see. Adults are making free love especially her father Raven with a fellow activist Alice in the presence of her and her mother. That confuses her in human relationship and behaviour so instantly Karo fall in love with her stepbrother and when he was taken away she feels the pain in her heart. That leads her to make aware of her parent's failure to take care her. The little girl who played Karo was very good in handling her role in those particular scenes.
The nudism in the movie was quite strong but it won't feel like some porn movie, it all counts on the way you take it on. The movie's moral was on the environmental circumstances like this what could a child can become or made by seeing the adult's behaviour. This movie was not a bad at all, it was directed very well by the director Dorothee and told everything she saw in her child's eye.
8/10
My Ueen, Karo
d_carlotaj10 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"My Queen, Karo," (2009). Belgium. Starring Anna Franziska, Debra Francois, and Matthias Schoenaerts. Directed by Dorothee Van Den Berghe. This movie was so wonderful. It is a buildungsroman, with the running leitmotif being structure. The theme is point of view and change. Karo is a pubescent girl whose father is a shiftless womanizer who believes in freedom. Freedom from government constraints, free love, polyamory, and just about everything that isn't tied down.
Karo is undergoing puberty, the separation of her parents, separation from her childhood friends, the death of her pet hedgehog. She wants structure, family security, and is very anxious about the changes. She is especially distressed about her mother's reaction to the disintegration of her marriage, Karo tries to reconcile her need for structure by allowing a sister to baptise her into the Catholic Church. Her father believes that organized faith serves no real purpose. Yet he figures out why Karo needs faith to hold onto. He teaches her the only reality is the present and what's in her view of the world, her psyche.
This is a Garden of Eden allusion. The serpent is Alice. Adam and Eve are Raven and Dahlia. When the children of the Garden fall from grace, Karo becomes the rescuer and the restorer of all things broken.
Unfortunately, just as the Fall from Grace dooms the figures in the Garden of Eden forever, so too is the marriage of Raven and Dahlia doomed by betrayal and things that cannot be undone.
However, Karo is transformed by her childhood trauma, and like any other child subject to the whims of adults who misbehave, Karo learns an imporant life lesson: survival. Brilliant acting, directing, writing. A film filled with charm. Enjoy! 5 of 5 stars.
Excellent excellent film.
AlmaCuerpocaliente1 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
My French is limited and my Flemish non-existent, and I watched this without subtitles and loved it. I'm sure the dialogue was great, but you didn't need it to connect with the film. My Queen Karo is an excellent film that captures the chaotic emotions of a daughter as her parents struggle with their relationship. It relays her struggle to love and appreciate her parents, despite their flaws and despite their choices. It is perhaps more favourable toward the mother, as in the end, I still retained anger and struggled to find empathy for Raven, but that could also be due to my not understanding much of his dialogue, or to my own beliefs as a parent. I highly recommend this film.
cool one
soumibiswas517 October 2015
2nd part should be there with focus not only the child but also same parents. English subtitles added. best part dad watching iglo die by karo, still sitting idly. he is so lazy at home with iglo but active with all others. i'm trying 2 see a sense of humour. movie makers please don't get angry. dad is so jealous if mom flirts.they did the biggest mistake of leaving belgium. karo shouldn't b angry coz her parents really wanted to fee......l how does it feel to live in the squats. they just wanted an adventure. they were really bored with their lives.on the positive side karo is a swimming champion.keep it up. p.s- this is not a spoiler.
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