The much-read novel ‘It Melts’ by Lize Spit has been made into a film. American critics at the Sundance Festival were scratching their heads, but the young leading actress won an award.
The fame of It melts the film was already rushing forward. First there was the successful, raw book (2016) by the Flemish writer Lize Spit (this year she wrote the book week gift). About three children of the same age, the girl Eva and Laurens and Pim, in a farming hamlet, who spend a lot of time together.
Until their friendship takes a catastrophic turn due to the cruel teenage games of the two boys, who try to get other girls to take off their clothes. In which Eva, due to the lack of a normal parental home, participates. Years later, adult Eva returns to her native village for a memorial service. With a huge block of melting ice in the trunk.
Actress Veerle Baetens (best known for her leading role in Broken circle breakdown ) adapted the story into a feature film. At the beginning of this year, she won an award for her young leading actress, Rosa Marchant, at the Sundance Festival in the United States.
Fragile people
As in a thriller, the traumatic history of adult Eva is outlined through flashbacks. It is not without reason that a psychologist was present on set during the most intense scenes. “I wanted to make a film about fragile people,” said Baetens. “Who take everything in and about whom the rest of the world often judges harshly.”
Although there was already a lot of controversy about the novel, the American critics did not know what to do with the film either. Everyone is full of praise for the leading actress, but the subject matter is considered dark and the story merciless and not very hopeful. It only makes you more curious about this directorial debut.