The Soundman

On the eve of the German invasion in 1940 Belgium, a tender attachment forms between a gifted young radio apprentice and a rising actress, their hopes colliding with a world edging toward war. Inside Brussels’s famed Flagey Building, 18-year-old Berre—an introverted talent with a magical ear—rises from intern to sound engineer, crafting transportive live radio drama soundscapes that captivate Elza, a luminous on-air performer seeking joy in uncertain times. As their fragile bond deepens amid air-raid sirens and rising antisemitism, the radio studio becomes a haven where imagination and escape push back the gathering darkness. Through lyrical visuals, sumptuous period detail, and breathtaking use of sound, this singular prewar tale delivers an immersive WWII-era drama unlike any other.