Leo Woeste, a serious crime squad investigator in Brussels, lives with his girlfriend and her five-yearold son, and successfully balances work and family. Upon hearing that his girlfriend is pregnant, he becomes overwhelmed with anxiety. Then while investigating the murder of a teenager from the Congo, Leo falls under the sway of Aysha Tshimanga, the dead teenager’s attractive older sister. Waste Land completes Pieter Van Hees’ “Anatomy of Love and Pain” trilogy. This mystery-thriller depicts Brussels as a dreary city characterized by its crime and by Belgium’s history of colonization. Confronting an African criminal organization in such a dark space, the main character enters a strange world of unreality, and becomes psychologically shaken. At the root of his insecurity is his childhood relationship with his father. Inspired by T. S. Eliot’s poem, the film’s title seems to suggest not only the desolation of the city but also that of the Leo’s internal existence. Belgian actor Jeremie Renier is one of the busiest actors this year and he enthusiastically portrays the role of the anxious main character. (RHEE Soue-won)