Heysel 85

"They were in charge. Until they weren't."

2026 1h 31m NL

DramaHistory

Synopsis

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When 39 people are killed prior to the European Cup at the Brussels Heysel stadium in 1985, the mayor's daughter and an Italian journalist are torn between their professional assignments, family, and human nature.

“They were in charge. Until they weren't.”

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Cast

Matteo Simoni
Luca Rossi
Violet Braeckman
Marie Dumont
Josse De Pauw
Marc Dumont
Ben Segers
Filip Mertens
Fabrizio Rongione
Albert Simons
Bobby Schofield
Alan Kennedy
Jeroen Van der Ven
Thomas Verbruggen
Dominique Dauwe
Michael Schmuck

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Teodora Ana Mihai
Writers: Teodora Ana Mihai, Lode Desmet, Isabelle Darras
Languages: Dutch, English, Italian, French
Countries: Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Dutch, English, Italian, French.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Bert Jacobs shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Matteo Simoni and Violet Braeckman and Josse De Pauw carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They were in charge. Until they weren't.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt30135000 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Teodora Ana Mihai directs. Bert Jacobs cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Germany. Dialogue in Dutch, English, Italian, French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.
2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Dutch, English, Italian, French.
3International production across 4 countries: Belgium, Romania, Netherlands, Germany.
4Editor Bert Jacobs shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Matteo Simoni and Violet Braeckman and Josse De Pauw carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "They were in charge. Until they weren't.".
7IMDB entry: tt30135000 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Editing: Bert Jacobs
Makeup / hair: Mariël Hoevenaars
Stunt coordinator: Brian van de Vooren
Runtime: 91 min · 1h 31m
Status: Released
Original language: NL
IMDB: Heysel 85 (2026)

Also by

Teodora Ana Mihai

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Leonardo2026-02-14
★ 7/10
A dense, minute-by-minute account of the tragic events of 29 May 1985 at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels. From the very first moments, the atmosphere is tense; as spectators, we share the same awareness as those in charge that day. The warning signs were there from the beginning, and the elements needed to foresee and prevent the disaster were already in place. I appreciated the film’s chosen perspective, the strong lead performance, and the distinctly European scope of the ensemble. Special mention goes to the cinematography and the decision to shoot on 16mm Kodak Vision3, which well blends with the archival footage and fully immerses us in 1985 without ever resembling a cheap television reenactment. The film frames not only the institutional failure to prevent and adequately respond to the tragedy, but also attempts to examine how each character, major or minor, is caught between role morality and a higher moral imperative. In doing so, it shifts the focus from abstract responsibility to individual ethical conflict. Last point, as an Italian living abroad, I was also moved by the portrayal of my compatriots and how they were perceived at the time, reflecting broader and recurring stereotypes applied to workers immigrant communities in Northern Europe.

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