This is not a rom-com: Simple comme Silvain (outdoor film)

De Nijverheid and cinema-out-of-place Opgedoekt present two films under the stars that offer a light-hearted counter-voice to cheesy Hollywood clichés and grandiose productions that prioritize genre conventions over humanity and individuality. Films that sometimes appear to be romantic comedies, but deliberately are not.

Simple comme Silvain
Monia Chokri, Canada/France (2023), 110 minutes, French dialogue, English subtitles

When the well-read and wealthy Sophia meets Sylvain, she quickly abandons her fine-but-stale relationship for a far more exciting affair with this attractive contractor. Everything is (quite literally) roses and moonlight - until they enter each other's social bubbles. The sweet music and the fat zooms make it crystal clear: this is satire. Simple comme Sylvain is the third feature film by Quebec-born director and actress Monia Chokri, who became known for her roles in films by Denys Arcand and Xavier Dolan, and also appears in this film. The film explores class differences and the complexity of love and desire, and is an outspoken wink at the rom-com genre.

Live performance & Cinema Season

After the film, Nadia Schambach performs a piece that connects to the film's theme. At De Nijverheid, you get more than just film: each screening features something distinctly Nijver, such as performances, karaoke, and/or a bite from PEUZEL before the film. The outdoor films and heated indoor cinema in the Nijverloods run from late summer through the tail end of winter.

Other films in the Cinema Season:
Wed 23/09 | Simple comme Silvain
Thu 24/09 | Italiensk for Begyndere - Danish-Swedish 'Dogma95' film about people meeting at an Italian for beginners course
Fri 01/10 | Interdisciplinary Shorts Night - three short films with three live performances by students from HKU Utrecht Conservatory