The van Paemel Family

Het Gezin van Paemel
Directed by	Paul Cammermans
Written by	Jan Blokker
Starring	Senne Rouffaer Mark Van Eeghem Jan Decleir Chris Boni
Distributed by	made for television
Release dates	1986 (1986)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Belgium
Language	Dutch

The van Paemel Family (Dutch: Het gezin van Paemel) is a 1986 Belgian historic drama directed by Paul Cammermans, based on a play written by Cyriel Buysse. The film received the André Cavens Award for Best Film by the Belgian Film Critics Association (UCC). It was also entered into the 15th Moscow International Film Festival.

Cast

• Senne Rouffaer : Mr. van Paemel, the patriarch
• Chris Boni : Mrs. van Paemel, his wife
• Marijke Pinoy : Romanie van Paemel, the youngest daughter
• Jos Verbist : Désiré van Paemel, a son
• Marc Van Eeghem : Kamiel van Paemel, a son
• Ronny Waterschoot : Eduard van Paemel, the oldest son

Plot

The family patriarch Van Paemel is a farmer on baron de Wilde's estate. His mild-mannered son Désire is accidentally shot during a hunting party on the estate and remains an invalid. Eduard, the eldest son, is a member of the socialist workers' movement and involved in strike actions in the city. Against her father's wishes, his daughter Cordule starts an affair with the poacher Masco. His youngest daughter, Romanie, is forced to work as a domestic servant at the castle, where she is seduced by Maurice, the baron's son and heir, and becomes pregnant. When the youngest son Kamiel also has to leave the farm because he is drafted into the army, the lack of workers on Van Paemel's farm becomes critical. As a result, the family is evicted from their home because they cannot pay the rent. Three of the children emigrate to the USA, one becomes a nun and one dies, until only the farmer and his wife remain.

External links

• The van Paemel Family at IMDb