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Brave Little Belgium > General idea's > King Albert
by: Tor Valamo

Is he someone we should like or dislike? Should we care about what he thinks? Should we want belgium to do as the allies say, or do we want to believe King Albert that he doesn't wanna risk everything and instead possibly lose the war and become a german province. In my opinion it is necessary for the ending that we (audience) at least take his side throughout the movie, possibly with a shed of doubt as certain remarks are thrown from both world leaders and the trenches. My point is that if that is something we can "hook" onto, then it should be easy getting a general storyline together, starting with possibly defining King Albert as a/the main character and how he thinks (does he have some past experiences that makes him doubt?). Then following the struggles he has in deciding what to do. Also, does he take part in the final battle himself? That would make an epic movie. Win his country back, or die trying. Update: I'm no expert on this conflict, but I read a little on Wikipedia. "King Albert fought with his troops and shared their dangers, while his wife, Queen Elisabeth, worked as a nurse at the front. The King also allowed his 14-year-old son, Prince Leopold, to enlist in the Belgian army as a private and fight in the ranks." This create huge opportunities for an angle on Albert. We can see the family's human side (as opposed to the aristocratic side), and that Albert could also be thinking about his son when making decisions. And it also gives us a chance for a window into the lower ranks of the army, without having to introduce separate character stories. Though that wouldn't hurt either, it could complicate things. One scene could even be the son trying to convince his father that he has to be allowed to fight, seeing as they need every man they can find. If they lose, "there's no belgium left to inherit, so it wouldn't matter anyways". I also read that Albert was trying to negotiate the peace towards Germany, and this could be part of the turning points, when those negotiations fail.
747 days ago | 0 Thumb-ups 
I think that's a good idea, thumbs up! Seeing the things from the side of king Albert I is something that hasn't been done before I believe.
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Tor Valamo gave a shot "King Albert" for Brave Little Belgium
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Brave Little Belgium > General idea's > King Albert
As usual give every idea you might have here. So I'd like to see a few questions solved here: The film will be as historically accurate as possible but what kind of movie will it be? Animation, a normal film...
748 days ago | 1 Comment | 2 Thumb-ups 

Is he someone we should like or dislike? Should we care about what he thinks? Should we want belgium to do as the allies say, or do we want to believe King Albert that he doesn't wanna risk everything and instead possibly lose the war and become a german province.

In my opinion it is necessary for the ending that we (audience) at least take his side throughout the movie, possibly with a shed of doubt as certain remarks are thrown from both world leaders and the trenches.

My point is that if that is something we can "hook" onto, then it should be easy getting a general storyline together, starting with possibly defining King Albert as a/the main character and how he thinks (does he have some past experiences that makes him doubt?). Then following the struggles he has in deciding what to do.

Also, does he take part in the final battle himself? That would make an epic movie. Win his country back, or die trying.

Update:
I'm no expert on this conflict, but I read a little on Wikipedia.
"King Albert fought with his troops and shared their dangers, while his wife, Queen Elisabeth, worked as a nurse at the front. The King also allowed his 14-year-old son, Prince Leopold, to enlist in the Belgian army as a private and fight in the ranks."

This create huge opportunities for an angle on Albert. We can see the family's human side (as opposed to the aristocratic side), and that Albert could also be thinking about his son when making decisions. And it also gives us a chance for a window into the lower ranks of the army, without having to introduce separate character stories. Though that wouldn't hurt either, it could complicate things.

One scene could even be the son trying to convince his father that he has to be allowed to fight, seeing as they need every man they can find. If they lose, "there's no belgium left to inherit, so it wouldn't matter anyways".

I also read that Albert was trying to negotiate the peace towards Germany, and this could be part of the turning points, when those negotiations fail.

Gert-jan_thumb
Pict0432_thumb
Brave Little Belgium > References > References
by: Taryn Parker

This is a great site for reference http://www.landships.freeservers.com/new_pages/belgian_unifs_ww1.htm
759 days ago | 0 Thumb-ups 
Thanks
Taryn Parker gave a shot "References" for Brave Little Belgium
Barve_little_belgium_thumb
Brave Little Belgium > References > References
Since I plan this to be an accurate historical film we will need many references about the Belgian Army in 1918 I added the pictures of a Belgian colonel and Sergeant And of the Mortier Van Deuren the Belgian response on the German Minenwerfer http://www.bunkergordel.be/images/fotos%20van%2018%20daagse%20veldtocht/mortier%20002%20-%20Van%20Deuren-Legermuseum.jpg These are links to a forum about WWI (in Dutch) Uniforms http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/viewtopic.php?t=13031&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 Propaganda of the French and British concerning Belgium http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/viewtopic.php?t=13558
759 days ago | 1 Comment | 1 Thumb-up 
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(null) commented a shot
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Brave Little Belgium > General idea's > Specific event/characters
by: (null)

The synopsis is about very large events, countries interacting with countries. But we can't easily countries on the screen, so what you might have to do is also come up with very specific events and characters that you do want to show. For example, is there a specific battle or incident during the war that you want to depict? Are there specific people you want to talk about? Perhaps you could tell the story of real people, or fictional characters based on real people. You say people were surprised by how bravely Belgian forces fought. When did this become apparent? What happened to make people realise Belgium was braver than they thought?
760 days ago | 1 Thumb-up 
Okay, so those two characters would be what you base the film around then? The contrast between what the soldier wants and what the officer wants? And their attitudes to their country? And do you know any specific events where Belgian forces demonstrated "becoming strong"?
Gert-jan_thumb
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Brave Little Belgium > General idea's > Specific event/characters
by: (null)

The synopsis is about very large events, countries interacting with countries. But we can't easily countries on the screen, so what you might have to do is also come up with very specific events and characters that you do want to show. For example, is there a specific battle or incident during the war that you want to depict? Are there specific people you want to talk about? Perhaps you could tell the story of real people, or fictional characters based on real people. You say people were surprised by how bravely Belgian forces fought. When did this become apparent? What happened to make people realise Belgium was braver than they thought?
760 days ago | 1 Thumb-up 
The synopsis is the historical setting, I had the idea to start the film in 1918 before the last allied offensive and let it end at the end of the same offensive. It was during this charge that the Belgian forces made their 'comeback' and amazed the other allies because of the metamorphosis from weak to strong while the others only got weaker. Specific people, King Albert I should at least be mentioned further I think we should have an officer behind the lines, one in the trenches and also a soldier in the trenches. Because of the different views they had. The soldier wants that the war ends asap and couldn't care less about honour and glory, the officer in the trenches wants to end the war too but is still patriotic, and the officer behind the trenches is complaining since the beginning of the war that they sit still and let the French and British do all the work.
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(null) gave a shot "Specific event/characters" for Brave Little Belgium
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Brave Little Belgium > General idea's > Specific event/characters
As usual give every idea you might have here. So I'd like to see a few questions solved here: The film will be as historically accurate as possible but what kind of movie will it be? Animation, a normal film...
760 days ago | 2 Comments | 1 Thumb-up 

The synopsis is about very large events, countries interacting with countries.

But we can't easily countries on the screen, so what you might have to do is also come up with very specific events and characters that you do want to show.

For example, is there a specific battle or incident during the war that you want to depict? Are there specific people you want to talk about? Perhaps you could tell the story of real people, or fictional characters based on real people.

You say people were surprised by how bravely Belgian forces fought. When did this become apparent? What happened to make people realise Belgium was braver than they thought?

Barve_little_belgium
New task: References

Since I plan this to be an accurate historical film we will need many references about the Belgian Army in 1918
I added the pictures of a Belgian colonel and Sergeant
And of the Mortier Van Deuren the Belgian response on the German Minenwerfer

These are links to a forum about WWI (in Dutch)

Uniforms
http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/viewtopic.php?t=13031&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Propaganda of the French and British concerning Belgium
http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/viewtopic.php?t=13558

Barve_little_belgium
Gert-Jan Van de Voorde created a new production "Brave Little Belgium"

In 1914, the poor little Belgians retreated behind the Yser river, during 4 years the Belgians stayed there, because King Albert I didn't believe the optimistic British and French generals who came joyfully announce their next lagre attack (mass slaughter), and claimed it would be the end of the war in the trenches, plus if the Belgians did attack then they would get slaughtered and the path to Calais would be free.

However in 1918, the last major offensive of the allies was coming up, victory was a certainty and out of political reasons Albert I decided to contribute.
The other allied forces were surprised by the strength and organization of the Belgian Army, Poor Little Belgium, grew to become Brave Little Belgium