Set in 1940 Brussels as war approaches, Frank Van Passel’s The Soundman tells a poetic love story unfolding within the world of Belgian radio. At the iconic Flagey building, Berre, a talented sound effects specialist, meets Elza, a young Jewish actress whose life is increasingly threatened by Nazi persecution. Their brief but intense romance develops amid growing fear as authorities begin deporting Jewish refugees to France. Blending history with intimate storytelling, the film celebrates the golden age of radio while portraying sound, imagination, and love as quiet forms of resistance against oppression.
“It’s the kind of film that feels discovered, that transports you into a world the way film should, even for those who don’t like subtitles.” Film Threat
“Every footstep, breath, radio hum, and silence carries emotional weight. The soundtrack is not merely heard; it is felt.” The Hollywood Times
