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Carnival in Flanders

1935 1h 50m Comedy List
100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
When citizens of a small Flemish town under the occupation of Spain discover that Spanish soldiers, led by a prominent duke (Jean Murat), will be staying overnight in their hamlet, panic ensues in anticipation of violence and cruel behavior. While the town mayor, Korbus de Witte (Alerme), opts to play dead to avoid a confrontation, his clever wife, Cornelia (Francoise Rosay), decides to distract their potentially problematic visitors with kindness and entertainment.

Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Rated: 5/5 Jun 4, 2004 Full Review Jamie Russell BBC.com Rated: 4/5 May 25, 2004 Full Review Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) Forty-eight years after having been filmed, Carnival in Flanders retains all of its joy and sharpness. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 5, 2019 Full Review Virginia Graham The Spectator Few people can argue either the rightness of reviving M. Jacques Feyder's [Carnival in Flanders], an enchanting film if there ever was one. Jun 20, 2018 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The mock-heroic bagatelle, a risqué undertaking at the time, still shines today with its shrewd commentary on human nature. Rated: B Apr 18, 2009 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 5/5 Jun 30, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Delightful French farce. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review eric b "Carnival in Flanders" is an overlooked French comedy that probably would seem quite dated today, if not for it being set in a past era (the 1600's) when a bit of mustiness feels appropriate. But, more importantly, the film's take on sexuality and gender politics is surprisingly ribald and contemporary. A small Belgian town expects a visitation from a potentially brutal Spanish troop, and the local male figureheads can't figure out anything to do but hide. The burgermeister even decides to fake his own death (with plenty of amusing consequences). Left to their own devices, the women hatch their own scheme, which amounts to disarming the invaders with food, flirtation and sex. It's a shock to see a 1930s movie depicting a woman hopping from room to room to seduce a parade of near-strangers, and the sly suggestion of a homosexual soldier who would rather do needlepoint is hilarious. There are even flashes of bare breasts. The rousing score and wonderful costumes are a bonus -- the only substantial flaw is that modern Hollywood protocol makes us anticipate the "bad guys" being made to look like grand fools. This satisfying humiliation never occurs. In fact, the twist is that the refined Spaniards turn out to be better men than the cowardly neighborhood boors. Still, "Flanders" is an accessible, delightful film that, along the way, manages to draw some obvious parallels with the growing threat of Nazism. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review spencer p Morally complicated and, in its place and time, giving quite controversial subtext, this well-filmed early party comedy makes bold moves, but they are now quite dated. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Delightful period comedy set in a town in Flanders at the time of the Spanish invasion in the 17th century. The mayor of the town is so terrified at the prospect of having to meet the Spaniards that he pretends to be dead, leaving the Mayoress to deal with the Spanish. Which she does. This is a charming story with wonderful characters and a perfect evocation of the period it is set in. Absolutely wonderful. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member wonderful costume comedy Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member As the Spanish prepare to invade a 17th-century Flemish village, the townsmen comes up with a cowardly solution to avoid them... and the womenfolk take matters into their hands. This is marvelous social satire, belonging among the best of Renoir, Clair, Carne and Bunuel. A witty script, risque scenarios, charming performances and some fine cinematography. The mayor's vision of what will happen to their town is something to behold! I really enjoyed it, and hope to see more by Feyder. One thing, though... he does seem to be mocking the Dutch for their willingness to roll over for the Germans, I wonder if he'd be a little more reluctant to point fingers 10 years later. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Carnival in Flanders

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Movie Info

Synopsis When citizens of a small Flemish town under the occupation of Spain discover that Spanish soldiers, led by a prominent duke (Jean Murat), will be staying overnight in their hamlet, panic ensues in anticipation of violence and cruel behavior. While the town mayor, Korbus de Witte (Alerme), opts to play dead to avoid a confrontation, his clever wife, Cornelia (Francoise Rosay), decides to distract their potentially problematic visitors with kindness and entertainment.
Director
Jacques Feyder
Production Co
Films Sonores Tobis
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
Canadian French
Runtime
1h 50m