Liege born Luc Dardenne and his brother Jean-Pierre are an acclaimed film making duo in their fifties. "Rosetta" in 1999 won them the coveted Palm d'Or at Cannes. As in "Le Silence de Lorna" many of their films deal with young people facing social difficulties. In the film the character of Lorna is played by Kosovar actress Arta Dobroshi. 

 

After the award ceremony we spoke to Luc Dardenne about the film.

 

I had a profound desire to make this film - with my brother.

 

Cultural diversity, that is to say that cultural exchange between European countries doesn't happen enough in the area of cinema".

 

I don't know yet.

 

That has never been done.

 

Non existent, or will become a cinema that will be less profitable - also a cinema that will be less good - with rare exceptions. 

 

I would have liked to have been a singer or musician.

 

An orphan without a large part of cinema's history...

 

Charlie Chaplin. For me he was a pioneer and someone who reflected his socio-economic era. He also made the best and most beautiful comedy.

 

 

 

The long career of Miroslav Janek (54), a Czech film director and editor, began in Czechoslovakia and continued in the USA, where he emigrated at the age of 26. He first learned about film from his father, a passionate amateur filmmaker.

 

To date he has made about 40 films. The Parliament nominated him for the 2008 Lux prize for his movie "Občan Havel" (Citizen Havel) - a film which looks into events in a post-totalitarian Czech Republic during its transition to democracy.

 

Václav Havel was a key figure in the great changes that took place in central and Eastern Europe in the 1990s.

 

We spoke to Miroslav Janek about his career and views on film.

 

I was asked to make it. The film was shot for 13 years by Pavel Koutecký, a friend of ours and colleague. He died tragically in an accident before he was going to edit it. After that I was asked by the production team to finish the film.

 

We will have five one hour TV programmes called "Citizen Havel".

 

Now that I am sitting here in this (a grey high sofas in front of Parliament's hemicycle) - I would say "Cabinet of doctor Caligari". It is a German silent film from the 20's. It is a classic and there is a very special design that reminds me of this one here.

 

Laughing "dead or sick"

 

If I wasn't a film director I would have become...

A carpenter.

 

Cinema without Hollywood would be....

Better...no no. this is not true. This is a difficult question, because there were some incredible films made but also a lot of rubbish that is taking over the cinema. In one word just to answer the question: it would be different.

 

Maybe the film called "The Unseen" (1997). It is about blind children taking photographs.

 

There is no single person. I admire a lot of people. But if I really need to mention one person I would chose Federico Fellini.

 

This is a special experience. I would never have expected to enter the European Parliament or any other parliament under normal circumstances. 

 

 

Born in 1975 in Hungary, Kornél Mundruczó has received numerous international awards, including the short-film category prize at the International Film Festival in Cottbus and the Hungarian Critics' Award.

 

He was nominated for the EP Lux prize 2008 for his latest movie "Delta"- a tale of a long lost brother being reunited with his sister in a remote marshland community much to the distain of the locals.

 

The same movie won the award of the International Federation of Film Critics this year at Cannes Film Festival.

 

Delta is the story of the return of a taciturn young man to the countrified delta region which is his family's home. There, he finds and falls in love with a sister he never knew he had. However, their relationship is rejected as strange and unnatural by the locals.

 

I had an idea... just going about my daily life. I have seen a lack of tolerance in Hungary, but also all over Europe. So I thought I would like to make a film about that.

 

You never know... You have lots of ideas all the time. ...But waiting for the money that's what is difficult in our business.

 

Movies directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a German director. He is the biggest for me.  Each one of his films are excellent.

 

Crazy - and very, very bad for all of Europe, especially for the audience! In this case, money can start to make the rules, and we have examples of what has happened... We have to bear in mind that culture is very important for Europe. History and culture - that's the best Europe has.

 

It depends...These days Hollywood is very conservative, but in the 40s, 50s and also 60s it was very brave. In that time European cinema and Hollywood cinema were much closer. Therefore I hope there is a revolution in Hollywood and afterwards we will be able to make films together, like in the 40s and 50s.  

 

My next!

 

The opportunity to build up a bridge between West and East. I have always felt that I am European since my early childhood and we are like in the same country now. And this is great. My nomination means that it is working.

 

 

 

The film 'Le Silence de Lorna', by the Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, is the winner of the European Parliament Cinema Prize LUX 2008. EP President, Hans-Gert Pöttering handed over the trophy to Luc Dardennne in a ceremony in front of MEPs and representatives of the three competing films in the final. The aim of the LUX Prize is to facilitate the circulation of European films within Europe.

 

In awarding the prize, Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering said: "The European Parliament has always recognised the pivotal role culture plays in our society and the award of the second LUX Prize reflects this.  One of the objectives of the prize is to experience cultural and language differences within the EU.  With this year's winner, a major social issue affecting Europe can be brought to cinemas in all European countries."
 
Director Luc Dardenne said, on receiving the prize:  "We don't see enough of each other's films in different countries of the European Union.  I think this prize is the first step in remedying this problem."
 
Aim of the LUX Prize
 
The aim of the LUX Prize, awarded for the first time in 2007, is to break down the language barriers that prevent European films from circulating in the EU and give a boost to cinematic work within the EU. The winner of the LUX Prize will have his film subtitled in the Union's 23 languages and one copy will be produced per Member State in 35mm format. The Prize also covers an adaptation for the deaf and hard of hearing, and eventually an adaptation for blind and visual impaired-people.
 
The competition
 
'Le Silence de Lorna' was selected by the MEPs who could vote for three films in competition; 'Le Silence de Lorna' (Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne) 'Delta' (Kornél MUNDRUCZÓ) and 'Obcan Havel' (Miroslav JANEK and Pavel KOUTECKÝ)
 
The three films were part on an official selection of 10 films, selected by a 17-strong independent panel drawn from the highest level of the cinema profession: producers, distributors, cinema operators, festival directors, critics, etc. 
 
In order to be eligible the film should illustrate the universality of European values and/or the diversity of European culture and/or bringing insights into the debate on the process of building Europe.  The films have been shown in the European Parliament in Brussels from 15 September-17 October 2008.
 
The LUX Prize was awarded for the first time in 2007 to the Turkish-German co production "On the Edge of Heaven" ("Auf der anderen Seite").
 
Facts about the winning film:
 
"Le silence de Lorna"
 
Directed by: Jean-Pierre and Luc DARDENNE
Co-production: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom
Release year: 2008
Runtime: 105 minutes
Original version: French
Award: Best screenplay, Cannes 2008
 
Synopsis
 
In order to become the owner of a snack bar with her boyfriend, Lorna, a young Albanian woman living in Belgium becomes an accomplice to a diabolical plan devised by mobster Fabio. Fabio has orchestrated a sham marriage between her and Claudy. The marriage allows her to obtain Belgian citizenship and then marry a Russian Mafioso willing to pay a lot of money to acquire the same quickly. However, for this second marriage to be possible, Fabio has planned to kill Claudy. Will Lorna keep silent?