Un Ange (Koen Motier, 2019): Belgium

Reviewed by William Edwards for the 2019 Santa Barbara Film Festival

The movie, Un Ange, directed by Koen Motier, was a powerful movie that linked personal relationships, class difference, substance abuse and cultural influence in a fascinating narrative that would grip most audiences who love independent movies and have a strong disposition.  It’s the story of a meeting between a celebrated cyclist from Belgium and a Senegalese prostitute that takes tragic dimensions, as often modern narratives do, when one starts to get involved in drugs.

Thierry, a Belgium cyclist, decides to go on vacation after an accident and relax, party in Senegal with his brother, who apparently unbeknownst to him has supplied him with drugs.  While attending a nightclub he meets a prostitute, Fae, who does not officially admit to being a prostitute, since she does not own a health card, meet and fall in love quickly. After spending time together they decide to go back to the hotel and from here the story defends into a hell that is both graphic and tragic.

The fascination of the movie emerges from the unlikely pairing of two people of different classes who, although most would assume a strange pairing, but really have much in common, since they’re both very independent and have a great deal of pride.  Nevertheless, class difference emerges when Fae is not allowed into Thierry’s hotel and his hot temper gets the best of him and it’s from here that the story defends into a hell.

It’s worth noting that the character studies of both main participants are structured slowly through the narrative which shows some layering along with their dreams and nightmares which, although some have a rather morbid and graphic turn, lend depth to the story itself.  The cinematography is excellent as it often moves in back of the actors as if we’re walking with them and the coloring of the sets and backdrop of the  country of Senegal is quite remarkable.  A must see movie.