It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

I enjoyed this film very much--partly because of its clever writing and partly because it shows a period you just don't see in films very often. It's well worth your time."Carnival in Flanders" is set in the 16th century--during the time that Flanders (modern Belgium) was ruled by Spain. It is set in a fictional town in Flanders--and apparently some thin-skinned Belgians during the 1930s wanted to ban the picture because they thought it made them look bad. That's silly--it's just a cute little comedy! The film begins with some minor intrigues in town--including a painter wishing to marry the daughter of the Burgomeister (that's a mayor for us Yanks). However, suddenly, this is unimportant--what IS important is that the Spanish army will be passing through and the town council KNOW this means they'll sack the town. So, they come up with a crazy plan--to pretend that the Burgomeister is dead. This really won't help anyone--just the Burgomeister! So it's up to the man's wife and the women of the town to deal with these invaders. However, they are shocked to see that the Spanish are incredibly polite--and kind of cute!! What's next? See the film.I found myself laughing several times during this movie--a very good sign for a comedy. I particularly liked the needlepoint scene! All in all, very entertaining, funny and exceptionally well made--they got the look of 16th century Flanders down pat. A wonderful little comedy that deserves to be seen.

This just might e the smartest black comedy (that is a matter of opinion ever made) right up there with Reoir's The Rules of the Game. A female empowerment movie, in a way it reminds one of the movie adaptation of "The Women" with bigger ideas on its mind. Made in 1935, and hailed by all critics as one of the greatest movies ever made, a position it would hold through the fifties, it is a deceptive little tale about the cowardice of men and the bravery of women. The last time the French came through, the little town of Flanders was rampaged ad plundered. News comes again that they are coming through, and the men panic, quiver and run for cover. It is the women who think up the plan to save the city As, I said smile, but very funny with the undercurrent of male an female dynamics underlining every line, phrase and action in this treat. To sum it up, it can be said that the old adage, "Behind every great man is a great woman" a perceptive and illuminating proper edifice.

The women hold a big banquet and all of the Spanish officers are invited. However, one of them is not interested and prefers to stay indoors and do his needlepoint. One of the village men is also not interested so the officer invites him to bring out his knitting. They discuss what kind of stitches to use and the officer opines that a particular stitch feels nicer on the leg.The scene is perfectly innocent, but how interesting that already in 1935 they had the idea that maybe not all of the soldiers wanted to be seduced by women! And they actually dared to put the scene in! :)The question of just what the Mayoress has done with the Duke is left unsaid, but probably also would never have passed the Hays Office in Hollywood.

A fun and charming film, but pretty forgettable. I watched it as the first part of a double feature (the second film being Mildred Pierce), and I hardly remember a thing about it. The story concerns the people of Flanders who have to deal with a Spanish invasion (the year is 1616). They are peaceful people and the Spanish are not. The mayor and other regents of the city are sure that there will be rape and bloodshed everywhere. Most of them want to flee. The mayor's wife and the other women don't like their husbands' cowardice. They try to think of a way to avoid violence. When the Spanish arrive, the men are mostly hiding and the mayor is playing dead. The women charm them. The Duke of the Spaniards is attracted to the mayor's wife. Meanwhile, there's a cute little love subplot between an artist and the mayor's daughter. Her father wants her to marry a man of higher class, but her mother perfectly loves the romantic artist. Through the film, she contrives a way for the two to get married without the mayor's approval. There are many better films to search out and watch, but if you think you've seen everything else, I guess this is okay to see. 7/10.