Café Derby

Café Derby is a Belgian film directed by Lenny Van Wesemael and released on 11 September 2015 at the Ostend Film Festival. It is based upon the true story of Van Wesemael's father.

Narrative

In 1985, Georges and Renée are forced to close their pub due to what they claim to be "unfair competition" when another pub opens in the neighborhood, selling drinks and food at lower prices. For a source of income, Georges sells washing powders at markets and is a sales representative for very expensive water cleaners.

Without Renée's knowledge, Georges makes an appointment with a real estate agent to visit a pub in a remote neighborhood next to the airport of Sint-Denijs-Westrem. Flanders Expo is also being built in the neighborhood. After Georges learns that Pope John Paul II is to celebrate an open-air mass at the airport, he signs the lease hoping to become rich in a short period of time. There are no competitors nearby and he has been told that the organizing committee for the Pope's visit doesn't intend to sell food or drinks. The only route to the event is via a road which passes the pub. It is estimated that at least 120,000 visitors will attend the event, and Georges is optimistic that at least half of the visitors will consume two drinks at his pub. Moreover, Georges and his pub's regular customers decide to organize a market in the pub's garden with stalls to sell food, drinks, and souvenirs to mark the Pope's visit. With these profits, Georges and Renée would like to retire and secure the future of their five children.

One week before the big event, Georges is informed that the committee will sell drinks and food after all. Although he is a little annoyed, he is still sure that it won’t have a significant impact on his business, as visitors have to pass the pub and the market when they enter and leave the event.