VRT and RTBF are showing a unique new documentary about Filip, King of Belgians: "Filip, a year with the King of the Belgians". For more than a year, the camera was allowed to follow the king during his meetings, his travels, his confidential moments, where cameras are not usually allowed. The result using behind-the-scenes footage is unprecedented: King Filip as we have never seen him before. Never before has King Filip shown himself in this way: candid, spontaneous and profound.
Director Nicolas Delvaulx was allowed to follow the king for more than a year for a documentary to mark the 10th anniversary of the king's reign. On 21 July this year, it was exactly ten years since Filip took over from his father King Albert.
Director Delvaulx was allowed to go where no camera had really ever been before. It makes for a unique film that immerses viewers in King Filip's professional life, offering compelling insight, into his professional life, as well as the man behind the position.
Delvaulx earlier shed light on Queen Paola
Revealing the real King Filip was also the intention of director Delvaulx. Previously he produced an historic documentary about Queen Paola, King Filip's mum, "Paola, côté jardin", in which the former queen, and also former King Albert, talk candidly on camera about their lives, and the difficulties in their marriage, and the mistakes they made. Their children, King Filip, Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent talked about their unhappy childhoods, and their parents.
Unique insight into King Filip thanks to one-to-one interviews
In "Filip, a year with the King of the Belgians", a documentary lasting over an hour and a half, Delvaulx wanted to give more insight into who his main character really is. In the documentary, we discover who our king really is. What is his role apart from official contacts? How does he work? How does he see his mission? How does he really influence the fate of the country and of Belgians?
Delvaulx was able to follow the king for more than a year, during his meetings and his travels. Thanks to one-on-one conversations he was able to have with the king, the documentary has become an extraordinary document. The film shows not only what King Filip actually does, but also, above all, who he is.
You can watch the documentary "Filip, a year with the King of the Belgians" on VRT 1 on Monday 18 December. It is a co-production with the Francophone broadcaster RTBF at 20:55 on VRT 1 and VRT MAX.
"Filip, a year with the King of the Belgians" is a programme by Alizé production/Tempo Allegro for VRT and RTBF.