Kapital Europe

A summer in Brussels sets the stage for a raw and poetic exploration of contemporary labor. Kapital Europe follows two newcomers in the capital of Europe as they navigate a journey marked by uncertainty and unexpected moments of joy. Reginald, a Romanian construction worker, toils as a day labourer without a contract in the city’s building sector. Niki, a young Greek woman, settles in Brussels and takes up work as a bicycle courier. While Reginald decides to return to Romania, Niki chooses to remain in the city. Their stories reveal the unyielding forces of the capitalist system at work.

Director Ben De Raes merges documentary and fiction, capturing both the monotony and the repetition of physical labor, as well as the passion and dedication of the workers. With restrained cinematography and a naturalistic soundscape, Kapital Europe portrays the often unseen yet indispensable labor that keeps the city moving. Interwoven with their stories are real conversations with working-class Brussels residents, adding depth to the film’s perspective.

Produced by DAGVORM FILMS  in coproduction with RAYUELA PRODUCTIONS with the support of the FLEMISH AUDIOVISUAL FUNDS (VAF) and TAXSHELTER.BE