Nicholas III, king of Belgium, is visiting Istanbul. To improve the boring image of royalty, he begins his official schedule with a British documentary filmmaker, but following the unexpected news that Wallonia has declared independence, the king must return to prevent this division of the country. Due to a solar storm, phone services fail and all flights are cancelled, so the king and his entourage travel overland. Passing the Balkans by bus and then van, unforeseen encounters, unpleasant experiences and trivial joys await them. King of the Belgians is a mockumentary road movie, commenting wittily on Belgium, the country perhaps most symbolic of the EU, Turkey’s wish to join the union, and the Balkans, the “poor countries” of Europe. Away from his ivory tower, the king appreciates the problems inherent in Europe and faces a turning point in his life when he meets real people. The film intriguingly observes the king embracing this period of transition. The fourth film from Belgium’s auteur couple Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth, King of the Belgians delivers serious subject matter through hilarious comedy. (RHEE Souewon)