Remy Belvaux Dies

Reuters
September 6, 2006

I loved this movie ...

Belgian filmmaker Remy Belvaux, whose sole feature "C'est arrivé près de chez vous" ('Man Bites Dog') became a cult hit, has died, his family said Wednesday. He was 38. A statement said he died Monday night in Orry-la-Ville, north of Paris, but no cause of death was given.

Shot on a micro budget, 'Man Bites Dog' purported to be a fly-on-the-wall TV documentary about the life of a cynically jovial serial killer. The 1992 movie walks a dangerous line between black humor and abject horror as the TV crew gradually becomes more implicated in the killer's gruesome crimes.

Belvaux also starred in 'Man Bites Dog' with Andre Bonzel and Benoit Poelvoorde, who has gone on to be a major star in France. The trio also produced the movie, which won a string of awards after debuting at the Cannes Film Festival.

Despite the movie's impact, Belvaux never shot another feature, instead turning to directing commercials for which he won several industry awards. 'He leaves us one masterpiece and tons of regrets,' his family said in their statement.