Laura Wandell – © Christophe Fadino
“Un monde” is the first feature film by Brussels director Laura Wandel, and is the official Belgian entry for the Academy Awards. Wallonie Bruxelles Images announced it Thursday. If the film, which has already won several awards, ends up on the shortlist in February, it will contend for the Oscar for Best International Film. The 94th Academy Awards will be held on March 27, 2022.
GVSource: Belgian
“Un monde,” released in English as “Playground,” tells the story of Nora and her older brother Abel. When Nora goes to first grade, she sees her older brother Abel being bullied on the playground. While her father wants her to talk, her brother wants her to shut up. Above all, Nora hopes to make new friends, which leaves her with a devastating choice.
The 37-year-old is proud of her film choice: “This choice is also very important to me because the film was entirely produced and directed in Belgium, with a French and Dutch speaking team and producers.” “Un monde” is actually a Belgian production, with Dragons Films as lead producer and co-producer, Ghent Lunanime’s production house, with support from the Flemish Audiovisual Fund and Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.
With its debut, Wandel has been on a triumphal streak across major and minor film festivals: the drama was recently awarded Best Debut Award at the popular BFI London Film Festival. Earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, the film won a FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) award in the “Un Certain Regard” section. After the show there, the director and actors received a standing ovation. “Un monde” was also nominated in the European Discoveries category at the European Film Awards in December.
Un monde premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and has already been sold to fifteen countries, including the United States. In Belgium it was released yesterday, in France for example on January 5, 2022.
