The Dealer (2024)

The Dealer

Having had its world premiere in the highly specialized Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, director and actor Jeroen Perceval’s first feature film Dealer was showcased at this year’s 48th Film Festival Ghent during its Belgian premiere.

Jeroen Perceval, who we glimpsed in Felix Van Groeningen’s With Friends Like These and later on in Michael Roskam’s movie Bullhead, made his international breakthrough with Robin Pront’s The Ardennes which he also co-wrote. He then engaged himself in writing before turning to directing films and full-length movies.

The latter tells the story of fourteen year old Johnny, who lives in a home for troubled youths. His father went missing and his bipolar painter mother demands more care than she herself can ever offer even though she gives him some moments of sunshine during his gloomy existence as the least happy person on Earth. Being a small-time dealer is only a means to an end for him having a better life. But is there any hope? Can you move forward if your past was like this?

Through dirty play and tense first contact he makes a frail friendship with Anthony famous stage and screen actor, who turns out to be Johnny’s regular customer but also brings unexpected paternal figure into his life. As Johnny wrestles with adultness that never seems possible for him to achieve, Anthony keeps chasing after youth that always escapes from him further and further away. Each one carries golden appeal for another which slowly changes its shape into something monstrous.

Johnny caught between dreams of glory and toxic masculinity tries to get it together on very weak grounds when (too) many adults lean on him too hard crushing everything around.

Damaged child Johnny has also deal with narcissistic wound left by egocentric monster Anthony who sees himself playing attractive fatherly role for some time only to drop boy with arrogant nonchalance once things start getting rough.

This is deeply dark film by Perceval, gangster flick crossed with psychological thriller as gloomy as rain on a rainy day; rain which is weeping through various scenes – stroboscopic and crepuscular in turn shot by David Williamson that complements images of film. It’s thoroughly nocturnal movie soaked in sticky decadence contrasting with light shed on Anthony’s fame and Johnny’s stolen innocence.

Perceval’s film about impossible redemption, first chances turning into last chances, lost childhoods, fragility and addiction; where adult world manifests itself as deeply cynical, lonely and unsettling; cruel merciless place where dreams are shattered by greed individualism.

Movie stands on simple performances: Sverre Rous is Johnny astonishing beginners whose eyes are hard to forget. Ben Segers (Actor with capital A) shines in particularly dark role being fragile selfish at the same time. Veerle Baetens (great actress Flemish films) gives brief but intense appearance as young hero mother while Bart Hollanders (another popular choice for Flemish TV) offers terrifying drug-ravaged dealer.

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