Bullhead

Jacky Vanmarsenille is a beef cattle farmer who lives a rough, insulated life on the margins of Flemish society. His body bears the marks of years spent wrestling with cattle and the darker costs of survival. When Diederik Maes, a veterinarian with dubious ethics, slides into his world offering a shady arrangement, Jacky finds himself drawn into a dangerous alliance with a notorious beef trader. The scheme pulls in people from his circle, including Lucia Schepers and Eva Forrestier, threatening not only his livelihood but his safety. As tensions rise, the line between loyalty and self-preservation becomes blurred, forcing Jacky to confront the consequences of choices made in the shadows.

Directed by Michaël R Roskam, Bullhead is a Belgian crime drama with a two million dollar budget that showcases Roskam's stark sensibility. The film premiered in 2011 and introduces Matthias Schoenaerts in a breakout lead, earning praise for blunt realism.

Bullhead marked a turning point for Belgian cinema, thanks to Schoenaerts's performance and a gritty depiction of a man caught between work and crime. His physical commitment and the film's unvarnished atmosphere helped it travel to international festivals and win attention, shaping the profile of Belgian talent on the stage.

Critics praised Bullhead for its portrayal of power, masculinity, and moral ambiguity set against a rural underworld. The film shows loyalties fracturing when illegal deals collide with codes, creating a bleak portrait of survival in a corrupt system. Its restrained violence and dialogue invite an analytical view of the characters.

Box office details are not widely reported for Bullhead, reflecting its modest European release. The film found a dedicated festival audience and limited international exposure, rather than a blockbuster-wide commercial run. Its financial footprint is dwarfed by bigger genre hits, yet it secured strong domestic performance for a Belgian drama.