Calvaire

The Ordeal

CALVAIRE is a type of southern-comfort-gone-wrong tale (that is, anything from DELIVERANCE to HILLS HAVE EYES) in a typically French scenario. The "ordeal" of the title is that of a young traveling singer (Laurent Lucas) whose van breaks down in a deserted mountain region, on Christmas Eve, near a hostel run by an affable yet creepy Mr. Bartel. It does not take long to find out that the innkeeper is totally out of his mind, and director Fabrice du Welz is much more explicit in depicting the sexual implications of Bartel’s obsession. Compared to the fate that awaits the unfortunate protagonist, that of poor Ned Beatty in DELIVERANCE is kids’ stuff. Du Welz has a keen eye for composition, and the way he injects weird elements into the story makes CALVAIRE the promising debut of du Welz. (Roberto Curti)

Director's Filmography (Selection)
Inexorable (2021; CE'22) - Adoration (2019; CE'22) - Message from the King (2016) - Alléluia (Alleluia, 2014; CE'22) - Colt 45 (2014) - Vinyan (2008; CE'22) - Calvaire (The Ordeal, 2004) - Quand on est amoureux, c'est merveilleux (A Wonderful Love, 1999, short) - Folles aventures de Thierry Van Hoost (1997, short)
Tribute 2022
Fabrice du Welz
Belgium / France / Luxembourg 2004
color
94 minutes
French
OV with English subtitles
Screenplay Romain Protat, Fabrice du Welz
Cinematography Benoît Debie
Editing Sabine Hubeaux
Sound/Sounddesign Marc Engels
Music Vincent Cahay
With Laurent Lucas, Jackie Berroyer, Philippe Nahon
Producer(s) Vincent Tavier, Michaël Gentile, Eddy Géradon-Luyckx
Production
La Parti Productions, Tarantula, The Film
World Sales
Funny Balloons
Austrian Premiere
World Premiere
Cannes Film Festival 2004