The Broken Circle Breakdown Analysis

Recounting the lives of one Belgian couple, The Broken Circle Breakdown (Felix Van Groeningen 2012) follows the relationship between Didier (Johan Heldenbergh) and Elise (Veerle Baetens), beginning with their initial stages of their relationship before ending on the latter’s suicide after the death of their daughter, Maybelle (Nell Cattrysse). The syuzhet, however, goes against the conventional order of their narrative, instead creating a greater emotional impact by constructing itself as temporally discontinuous. By presenting later episodes of the fabula first, the audience becomes aware of the fact that the family’s moments of happiness are ultimately fleeting; in turn, all the viewer can see is their impending heartbreak. Further, with

As such, the lyrics suddenly become more jarring than prior, their morbidity contrasting with the growing attraction between two lovers. Further, the viewer can now connect the episode of Elise’s suicide to this scene in particular, thus bringing in a whole other set of emotions that should not actively belong here. However, the next song that follows, “Cowboy Man,” is far more empathetic to what is occurring, with lyrics describing a woman akin to princess wanting her own rugged, down-to-earth lover, clearly serving as a metaphor for Elise and Didier respectively. While more empathetic to the mood of their budding romance about to take place, the syuzhet avoids following the scene with another meant to carry that same kind of emotion; instead, it transitions into the present, with the two struggling to hold it together with each other. Thus, the true nature of the song becomes void, and only serves as a painful reminder that these two, while once in love, will inevitably succumb to their overwhelming

In actuality, however, the lyrics provide a relative instance of clarity in regard to Elise in particular, which is all the more fitting, given in that it is her singing alone in this instance. Scattered throughout the film are several notable references to her faith in contrast to Didier’s lack thereof, with her cross necklace being especially prominent. The “country in her genes” could thus be seen as indicative of the system of belief Elise undoubtedly has, her mindset working to later create a distance between her and Didier because of her unwillingness to change for him. With the lines “it goes back generations, it’s something I’m proud of” and “I ain’t ashamed to wear what’s been handed down to me,” the audience will undoubtedly think back to the scene of her passing down the necklace to her daughter, a tradition in her family that serves as a metaphor for Elise also passing on the belief of something greater beyond