Camping Cosmos
Encyclopedia
Camping Cosmos is a Belgian 1996 film, sequel to La Vie sexuelle des Belges 1950-1978
, directed by Jan Bucquoy
. It stars Claude Semal, Lolo Ferrari
(Miss Vandeputte), Noël Godin
(Pierre Mertens
), Herman Brusselmans
(Herman) and Arno
(Harry).
The movie's tagline is: Revolution
, football, beer and frites. It is an unconventional and non-conformist story of the sexual habits of Belgians. Cosmos
refers to the eternity of heaven in full contrast with this little campsite
where so many people live together with their problems and limited view of the world. It also refers to the Russian cosmonauts who explored space, but who as communists did not believe in an afterworld. And last, the name of this Campsite Cosmos is referring to the sky without limit above the heads of its residents.
's play, Mother Courage and Her Children
or an interview with the famous writer Pierre Mertens, but the vacationers at this caravan park are more interested in
low-brow distractions
, like soccer, boxing matches or beauty contests, as well as sexual adventures and temporary romances.
. Because of the refusal of the Flemish Government
to raise the capital fund of the equivalent of 200.000 Euro at that time, the film had a substantial delay and was not ready in time for the Cannes Film Festival
of 1996. This had consequences for the release later in Belgium
. The film could not be released before 1997 in Paris.
La Vie sexuelle des Belges 1950-1978
La Vie sexuelle des Belges 1950-78 is a 1994 film satire on Belgian provincialism that proved a major cinematic success in Belgium. It was the first film by now-famed Flemish provocateur and director Jan Bucquoy...
, directed by Jan Bucquoy
Jan Bucquoy
Jan Bucquoy is an anarchist and author-filmmaker born in Harelbeke, Belgium who started as a theatre practitioner and who worked as a cartoon-scriptwriter.-Career:...
. It stars Claude Semal, Lolo Ferrari
Lolo Ferrari
Lolo Ferrari, born Eve Valois , was a French dancer, sex star, pornographic actress, actress and singer billed as "the woman with the largest breasts in the world" though their size was artificially achieved....
(Miss Vandeputte), Noël Godin
Noël Godin
Noël Godin is a Belgian writer, critic, actor and notorious cream pie flinger or entarteur. Godin gained global attention in 1998 when his group ambushed Microsoft CEO Bill Gates in Brussels, pelting the software magnate with cream pies...
(Pierre Mertens
Pierre Mertens
Pierre Mertens is a Belgian French-speaking writer and lawyer who specializes in international law, director of the Centre de sociologie de la littérature at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, and literary critic with the newspaper Le Soir.Influenced by Franz Kafka, Mertens started to publish...
), Herman Brusselmans
Herman Brusselmans
Herman Frans Martha Brusselmans is a Flemish novelist, poet, playwright and columnist. He lives in Ghent.Herman Brusselmans studied Dutch and English at the University of Ghent. In his early twenties he was a successful football player. He played for Vigor Hamme and SK Lokeren. He now has his own...
(Herman) and Arno
Arno Hintjens
Arno Hintjens , usually referred to as Arno, is a Belgian artist born in Ostend. He was the frontman of the group TC Matic. After the band split in 1986 he went solo....
(Harry).
The movie's tagline is: Revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
, football, beer and frites. It is an unconventional and non-conformist story of the sexual habits of Belgians. Cosmos
Cosmos
In the general sense, a cosmos is an orderly or harmonious system. It originates from the Greek term κόσμος , meaning "order" or "ornament" and is antithetical to the concept of chaos. Today, the word is generally used as a synonym of the word Universe . The word cosmos originates from the same root...
refers to the eternity of heaven in full contrast with this little campsite
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
where so many people live together with their problems and limited view of the world. It also refers to the Russian cosmonauts who explored space, but who as communists did not believe in an afterworld. And last, the name of this Campsite Cosmos is referring to the sky without limit above the heads of its residents.
Plot
On a campsite at the Belgian coast - where everybody wants to live in complete freedom and forget the obligations of everyday life - Jan Bucquoy, the delegate of the Ministry of Culture, must bring culture nearer to the working class. He presents things like Bertolt BrechtBertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
's play, Mother Courage and Her Children
Mother Courage and Her Children
Mother Courage and Her Children is a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin...
or an interview with the famous writer Pierre Mertens, but the vacationers at this caravan park are more interested in
low-brow distractions
Low culture
Low culture is a term for some forms of popular culture. Its opposite is high culture. It has been said by culture theorists that both high culture and low culture are subcultures....
, like soccer, boxing matches or beauty contests, as well as sexual adventures and temporary romances.
Production
The production was entirely in the hands of Transatlantic Films and its director Francis De SmetFrancis De Smet
Francis De Smet . PH. D. of Philosophy . Inventor: soundenhancing, Human intervention on the Internet. Film producer. Music supervisor for Transatlantic Films...
. Because of the refusal of the Flemish Government
Flemish government
The Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...
to raise the capital fund of the equivalent of 200.000 Euro at that time, the film had a substantial delay and was not ready in time for the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
of 1996. This had consequences for the release later in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The film could not be released before 1997 in Paris.