Piranha Blues

When the father of the film director and former lawyer Willem Wallijn is arrested in the Agusta-Dassault bribery scandal, his son becomes the spokesman for the family in their contacts with the press. He tries to analyse this strange situation for himself, and the result is Piranja Blues: Film 1, a film in which Wallijn jr. slowly but surely lets reality get out of hand. The film is far from being a report of the court case against Wallijn sr. It is more of a personal quest by the son who feels a strange combination of enjoyment, shame and sympathy with his father. On the opening day of the trial, Wallijn jr. uses ten mini- cameras to shoot on the steps of the Palais de Justice. The man who accompanies his father into the press spotlight, is actor Peter van den Begin. At the same moment, television journalist Joh. Van Buren (also an actor) prepares himself in the catacombs of the justice building. These are stressful days for him, but the experienced man is calm and filled with self-assurance. In his report for the afternoon news, he makes an ethical speech, in which he makes fun of Wallijn jr. without pulling punches. The director, who has an ego at least as large as the reporter, reacts fiercely. He even goes as far in his fury as to abuse and kidnap the reporter. With his friends, he starts to investigate the life of the journalist for hidden weaknesses. That investigation teaches him all kinds of things about himself.

Piranha Blues: Film 1 ( Film 1 )
	Director	Willem Wallyn
	Duration (minutes)	102
	Country , Year	Belgie , 1999
	Theme programme	main programme features
	Cast	Peter van den Begin;Herbert Flack;Frank van der Linden;David Steegen;Dora van der Groen;Sylvia Kristel;Luc Wallyn;Carl Ridders
	Scenario	Petra van Rompaey
	Camera	Lou Berghmans
	Music	Dirk Jans
	Editing	Neil Skeet

	Sales	Luna Films

When the father of the film director and former lawyer Willem Wallijn is arrested in the Agusta-Dassault bribery scandal, his son becomes the spokesman for the family in their contacts with the press. He tries to analyse this strange situation for himself, and the result is Piranja Blues: Film 1, a film in which Wallijn jr. slowly but surely lets reality get out of hand. The film is far from being a report of the court case against Wallijn sr. It is more of a personal quest by the son who feels a strange combination of enjoyment, shame and sympathy with his father. On the opening day of the trial, Wallijn jr. uses ten mini- cameras to shoot on the steps of the Palais de Justice. The man who accompanies his father into the press spotlight, is actor Peter van den Begin. At the same moment, television journalist Joh. Van Buren (also an actor) prepares himself in the catacombs of the justice building. These are stressful days for him, but the experienced man is calm and filled with self-assurance. In his report for the afternoon news, he makes an ethical speech, in which he makes fun of Wallijn jr. without pulling punches. The director, who has an ego at least as large as the reporter, reacts fiercely. He even goes as far in his fury as to abuse and kidnap the reporter. With his friends, he starts to investigate the life of the journalist for hidden weaknesses. That investigation teaches him all kinds of things about himself.