An unusual offering, this : it is the product of an indie Walloon animation studio and of mechanisms such as crowd-funding. The subject too is very unusual : one gets an overview of the life and times of Leopold I and, at the same time, of the origins of Belgium as an independent nation state.
"Léopold, roi des Belges" is a more or less tragicomical take on real-life history, mixed with elements of fantasy. For instance, Leopold I is followed and accompanied by Death personified ; it is a fitting companion, since the man saw a great deal of death and sorrow, both on battlefields and within his own private life. Another touch of artistic fantasy : some of the prominent burghers pleading for Belgian independance (and later turning into Leopold's ministers) are based on current politicians. In the animation movie they don't look all that appealing, but then that's true in real life too...
The animation has a nicely human, hand-made quality about it, which provides it with a great deal of warmth and charm. At times it is very beautiful, too.
The viewer gets to follow Leopold quite closely. And what an interesting life ! Starting out as a German (or at least Germanic) princeling, young Leopold grew into a remarkably handsome man who married the English crown princess. Tragically, the crown princess was to give birth to a still-born son before dying of shock and blood loss. Now a widower with a broken heart, Leopold drifted along aimlessly until someone offered him the crown of Belgium, which had just broken away from Holland and was trying to establish itself as an independent nation. (We're talking anno 1830.) Leopold did not only become king, he became a successful king who defended and re-organised his new country. Near the end of his life he had become a diplomatic force to be reckoned with on the European scene. His dynasty still reigns, and is closely related to pretty much every royal family in Europe.
The movie contains all of these elements, as it should. Still, there are other facets of Leopold's personality which are somewhat neglected or glossed-over. King Leopold took a keen interest in Belgium's trade, economy and industry ; but he did not do so only because Belgium needed (or wanted) the money, he needed (or wanted) money for himself and his friends, too. King Leopold took a keen interest in Belgium's banking system ; but he did not do so only because Belgium needed (or wanted) the money, he needed (or wanted) money for himself and his friends, too. King Leopold was quick to provide Belgium with cutting-edge technology and innovative enterprises ; but he did... Well, you know where I'm going with this. I'm not saying this because I want to blacken Leopold's character or belittle his accomplishments ; I'm just pointing out that the man seems to have had a more layered and multi-faceted personality than the one shown in the movie.
"Léopold, roi des Belges" also makes a very sharp distinction between Leopold I (who is shown as honest, upstanding, brave and devoted to the common good) and his son Leopold II (who is shown as embittered, callous, ambitious and cruel). It might perhaps be more realistic to state that Leopold II, who was indeed a hugely unpleasant man, took some of his father's policies to their most logical, most dreadful extremes.
So it would be wise to look upon the portrait painted in the movie as an introduction and an invitation to delve deeper into the matter yourself. Well, that's a very respectable didactic purpose too.
"Léopold, roi des Belges" is a more or less tragicomical take on real-life history, mixed with elements of fantasy. For instance, Leopold I is followed and accompanied by Death personified ; it is a fitting companion, since the man saw a great deal of death and sorrow, both on battlefields and within his own private life. Another touch of artistic fantasy : some of the prominent burghers pleading for Belgian independance (and later turning into Leopold's ministers) are based on current politicians. In the animation movie they don't look all that appealing, but then that's true in real life too...
The animation has a nicely human, hand-made quality about it, which provides it with a great deal of warmth and charm. At times it is very beautiful, too.
The viewer gets to follow Leopold quite closely. And what an interesting life ! Starting out as a German (or at least Germanic) princeling, young Leopold grew into a remarkably handsome man who married the English crown princess. Tragically, the crown princess was to give birth to a still-born son before dying of shock and blood loss. Now a widower with a broken heart, Leopold drifted along aimlessly until someone offered him the crown of Belgium, which had just broken away from Holland and was trying to establish itself as an independent nation. (We're talking anno 1830.) Leopold did not only become king, he became a successful king who defended and re-organised his new country. Near the end of his life he had become a diplomatic force to be reckoned with on the European scene. His dynasty still reigns, and is closely related to pretty much every royal family in Europe.
The movie contains all of these elements, as it should. Still, there are other facets of Leopold's personality which are somewhat neglected or glossed-over. King Leopold took a keen interest in Belgium's trade, economy and industry ; but he did not do so only because Belgium needed (or wanted) the money, he needed (or wanted) money for himself and his friends, too. King Leopold took a keen interest in Belgium's banking system ; but he did not do so only because Belgium needed (or wanted) the money, he needed (or wanted) money for himself and his friends, too. King Leopold was quick to provide Belgium with cutting-edge technology and innovative enterprises ; but he did... Well, you know where I'm going with this. I'm not saying this because I want to blacken Leopold's character or belittle his accomplishments ; I'm just pointing out that the man seems to have had a more layered and multi-faceted personality than the one shown in the movie.
"Léopold, roi des Belges" also makes a very sharp distinction between Leopold I (who is shown as honest, upstanding, brave and devoted to the common good) and his son Leopold II (who is shown as embittered, callous, ambitious and cruel). It might perhaps be more realistic to state that Leopold II, who was indeed a hugely unpleasant man, took some of his father's policies to their most logical, most dreadful extremes.
So it would be wise to look upon the portrait painted in the movie as an introduction and an invitation to delve deeper into the matter yourself. Well, that's a very respectable didactic purpose too.
