The King's fools
- Technical data
- Format: 16 mm
- Date: 1993
- Duration: 57 minutes
- Writer and director: Richard Olivier
- Image: Jean-François Boucher, Alain Marcoen, Michel Mernier
- Sound: Jean-Claude Douley, Jacques Nisin, Frans Wentzel
- Editing: Pilar Morales
- Production director: Monique Licht
Synopsys
This film could be a « Belgian joke ». It telescopes the recent art history of this country of mussels and chips. Poliart, Lizène, Evôye, Stas, Bucquoy, Broodthaers and Blavier find themselves all thrown into a single pot. Broodthaers concocts the sauce: “the kettle of mussels” is the central subject. Isy Brachot is Ringmaster, and the cooks at this Brussels caterie are the vox populi. In the meantime, a chip vendor and lover of chromos expresses regret over the “little” Magritte she could have bought if only… She is the one of who prosaically sums up the absurdity of the situation, where the best are reduced to being good when they are dead. And Bucquoy, with rebellious reply, beheads the king.
Jacqueline Aubenas
Press review
Lightning visit to the « country of mussels and chips ». A document that does not seek to please at all cost, and will certainly embarrass a few people. " La Libre Belgique "
A subtil meditation on the relationship between art, life and boredom. And on stupidity and liberty. " Moustique "
The King’s jesters is pure pleasure, a puff of air in our Belgian audiovisual landscape which is not always very iconoclastic. " Le Soir "
I wish sourness and exasperation could always be translated into humour and mockery!. " Le Ligueur "