# The Giants (2011 film)

The Giants (French: Les géants) is a 2011 Belgian drama film directed by Bouli Lanners, written by Lanners and Elise Ancion, starring Zacharie Chasseriaud, Martin Nissen, Paul Bartel, Didier Toupy, Karim Leklou, Marthe Keller and Gwen Berrou. Shot in the Ardennes in Belgium and Luxembourg, produced by Jacques-Henri Bronckart and Jani Thiltges for Versus Production, it was released in Belgium on 12 October 2011.
The Giants had its world premiere in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival on May 20, where it won the SACD Prize and the Art Cinema Award. It has received high praise from film critics and is considered one of the best Belgian films of that year, winning five Magritte Awards, including Best Film and Best Director.

## Plot

Abandoned at their late grandfather's house for the summer, teenage brothers Zak and Seth are left to their own devices. With the endless possibilities of summer fun and adventure to be had in the idyllic Belgian countryside, they feel the world is their oyster. But when money runs short and with no help in sight, the boys scheme to support themselves by renting their deceased grandfather's house to a local drug dealer, but things don't go exactly as planned.

## Cast

* Zacharie Chasseriaud as Zak
* Martin Nissen as Seth
* Paul Bartel as Danny
* Didier Toupy as the dealer
* Karim Leklou as Angel
* Marthe Keller as Rosa
* Gwen Berrou as Marth

## Release

The film premiered on 20 May in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The film was subsequently screened at various film festivals, including Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur and BFI London Film Festival, and premiered in the United States at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on January 27 2011. The Belgian regular release was on 12 October 2011 through O'Brother Distribution. Haut et Court bought the distribution rights for France and Eye Film Instituut bought the Dutch distribution. The film was released in France on 2 November 2011 and in the Netherlands on 26 January 2012. As of November 6, 2011, The Giants has grossed $211,657 in Belgium and $119,816 in France. Following its wins at the 2nd Magritte Awards, it was announced O’Brother Distribution would re-release the film in Belgium on 8 February 2012.
The Giants was released on DVD on 7 March 2012 in France. The home edition contains a making-of and a music video for the theme song "The Bony King of Nowhere" by Bram Vanparys.

## Accolades

| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Angoulême Francophone Film Fest | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Angoulême Francophone Film Fest | Valois Magelis | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Cannes Film Festival | SACD Prize | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Cannes Film Festival | Label Europa Cinemas Prize | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Cannes Film Festival | Art Cinema Award | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Châtenay-Malabry Film Festival | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Châtenay-Malabry Film Festival | Prix du Développement Durable | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Châtenay-Malabry Film Festival | Award of the Youth | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Châtenay-Malabry Film Festival | Audience Award | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Chicago International Film Festival | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Dieppe International Film Festival | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Festival du Film Francophone | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Festival du Film Francophone | Best Cinematography | Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd | Won |
| Festival du Film Francophone | Best Actor | Zacharie Chasseriaud, Martin Nissen, Paul Bartel | Won |
| Festival du Film Francophone | Best Actress | Marthe Keller | Nominated |
| Lumières Award | Best French-Language Film | Bouli Lanners | Nominated |
| Magritte Award | Best Film | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Magritte Award | Best Director | Bouli Lanners | Won |
| Magritte Award | Best Screenplay | Bouli Lanners, Elise Ancion | Nominated |
| Magritte Award | Best Supporting Actor | Didier Toupy | Nominated |
| Magritte Award | Best Supporting Actress | Gwen Berrou | Won |
| Magritte Award | Most Promising Actor | Martin Nissen | Nominated |
| Magritte Award | Best Cinematography | Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd | Won |
| Magritte Award | Best Sound | Marc Bastien, Thomas Gauder | Nominated |
| Magritte Award | Best Production Design | Paul Rouschop | Nominated |
| Magritte Award | Best Costume Design | Elise Ancion | Nominated |
| Magritte Award | Best Original Score | Bram Van Parys | Won |
| Magritte Award | Best Editing | Ewin Ryckaert | Nominated |