Love is supposed to crush you and marriage is the fast track to long-time despair. Such dark truisms are flung about in "The Broken Circle Breakdown," a Belgian film whose spirit is so 20th-century Americana it may as well be draped in the Stars and Stripes. And those truisms seem so glamorous, recalling John Cassavetes or more recently "Blue Valentine," wrestling with broken relationships and making the bruises seem gorgeous.
Directed by Felix van Groeningen, "Broken Circle" is an ode to bluegrass and bikinis, tattoos and sex. In many ways, it's a celebration of the Way America Was, at least as how much of the rest of the world perceived it — an extraordinary land that promised unlimited freedom and bottomless desire. America wasn't really about happiness, but getting a license to drink and drink from its cup and still feel parched with thirst. The edgy discontent fueled your desire for more — for love and life and romance without end. Enough was never enough, not even the bad stuff.
"Broken Circle" brings together two Belgians bitten with the Americana bug. Didier (Johan Heldenbergh) is a bluegrass musician playing in small clubs and bars when tattoo artist Elise (Veerle Baetens) spots him and is immediately attracted. The two set off on a relationship that's equal parts nonstop sex and endless music — and as Elise joins Didier's band as their new vocalist, it feels like the sparks will fly forever. They get married and a baby girl is born. Didier names her Maybelle, after country music legend Maybelle Carter.