Cargo *** (2017, Sebastien Dewaele, Sam Louwyck, Wim Willaert, Josse De Pauw, Wennie De Ruyck, Gilles De Schryver) – Movie Review 

Co-writer/ director Gilles Coulier’s drama is incredibly dark, dour, raw and bleak, but a true humanity and a deeply hidden central core of warmth are to be found here. If there is a laugh anywhere, it must be a mistake. It feels like a deep wound that is taking too long to heal, or perhaps the punch in the face that one of its brother characters dishes out to his brother. So it is not very comfortable then.

First of all, and most importantly, unlike so many films, it feels real, honest and true, not a script-writer’s fake contrivance. I believe in its story and its characters, its situations and its backdrops. All of it rings true, with the ugly sounds of reality. Also, it is valuable as a unique and totally original story, a one off, not derived from anywhere or anybody. It has the sharp taste of real life, not movie life.

It is a tale of  story of three miserable Belgian brothers (Sebastien Dewaele, Sam Louwyck, Wim Willaert), who own a boat and a small family fishery business. Their father is half dead after an accident at sea, probably chucking himself overboard in despair about the business and his inability to raise cash to save it. While he is on life support, older brother Jean finds out about the bank’s refusal to loan on a failing business, while younger brother William wants to sail and fish again. This produces the row that end in the nasty smash to the face.

The youngest brother Francis has a different agenda, which comes as a surprise late on the movie. Then there’s the little boy Vico (Chiel Vande Vyvere), who loves his granddad, and gets bossed around and pushed around by the brothers. It looks like he has a taste for the sea and the family business. It is in his soul.

The characters become increasingly desperate as the film moves on. There is no slack or time-wasting in a taut, compact film that compels your attention. Off-putting or alienating you could find it, but dull or boring not for a second. Quite a lot happens in its 90 minutes, and when you realise it is suddenly come to an end, you want a bit more. The family’s story is going on without you. It is just a slice of their life.

It is a complicated set-up that could easily have produced a thriller but here produces a realist, documentary-style kitchen-sink drama. It is not easy or pleasant to watch, but it is a good and honourable film, and worth people’s time.

Tom Dupont is the co-writer with the director. The main praise goes to them and the three main actors.

It is nominated for the Sutherland Award First Feature Competition at the London Film Festival 2017, or rather Gilles Coulier is.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review 

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