Decleir/Schoenaerts

Long live Decleir and Schoenaerts!

To mark Jan Decleir’s 80th birthday and the 100th anniversary of Julien Schoenaerts’ birth, De Cinema and De Studio are presenting a special film programme dedicated to two of the greatest icons in Flemish theater and film history.

Julien Schoenaerts (1925–2006) was undoubtedly one of the most charismatic Flemish actors of his generation—and, in fact, of the entire history of theater and film in Flanders. Schoenaerts, also known as the “Flemish Marlon Brando,” studied under writer and theatre educator Herman Teirlinck. His grand and memorable film debut was the role of an unnamed stranger in the cosmopolitan Flemish film noir MEEUWEN STERVEN IN DE HAVEN (1955) by Roland Verhavert, Rik Kuypers, and Ivo Michiels. Schoenaerts collaborated with Verhavert and Michiels a second time on HET AFSCHEID (1966), which won acclaim at the Venice Film Festival.

He then appeared in Raoul Servais’s only feature film, TAXANDRIA (1994), which we are screening in a new 4K digital restoration. Finally, Schoenaerts gave a brilliant performance as Bishop Stillemans in Stijn Coninx’s DAENS (1992), in which he gave a memorable performance opposite Jan Decleir.

Decleir is a living legend in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, and the Netherlands. He has performed (and still performs!) in just about every theater in the Benelux. In addition to his many roles in theater and film, he also found time to teach and serve as artistic director of the theater school, Studio Herman Teirlinck. He is also active as a visual artist. No actor in the Benelux has a longer or more impressive filmography than he does.

This legend of theater, television, and film has appeared in all the major films from various periods of Flemish and Dutch film history. Take MIRA (1973), for example, in which he gave a fantastic performance alongside Willeke van Ammelrooy—who will be joining us on November 8 for an introduction and post-screening discussion! But also the Oscar-nominated DAENS (1992)—which we’re screening in a brand-new, restored 2K version—and the Oscar-winning films ANTONIA (1995) by Marleen Gorris and KARAKTER (1997) by Mike van Diem, who will also be joining us on November 8 for a discussion about the film.

In Hollywood or France, this brilliant and memorable actor would have already won several Oscars or Césars for Best Actor. To mark his 80th birthday, we pay tribute to the versatility of this performing artist. We are therefore pleased to present a few episodes from the delightful television series KULDERZIPKEN (1995–1996) and the film MARIEKE, MARIEKE (2010) by Sophie Schoukens. On November 13, Schoukens will join us for an introduction and a post-screening discussion, moderated by De Cinema coordinator Joyce Palmers.

The JAN & JULIEN film festival is organized by De Cinema and De Studio, in collaboration with the City of Antwerp.

Text by Wouter Hessels.