“When It Melts” is the directorial debut of Belgian screen actress Veerle Baetens (b. 1978). As a recipient of the European Film Award as Best Actress for her leading role in the Academy Award-nominated feature “The Broken Circle Breakdown” (2012), her latest film world premiered at last January’s Sundance Film Festival. Actress Rosa Marchant was awarded the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for her role as young Eva.

Eva is the central character in the film. Many years after a sweltering summer that spun out of control, she returns to the village she grew up in with an ice block in the back of her car. In the dead of winter, she confronts her past and faces up to her tormentors.

Veerle Baetens at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

Deadline described the film as ‘an emotionally stunning story of a troubled life’ (January 21, 2022, review), and ScreenDaily wrote that ‘actor-turned-director Veerle Baetens makes an impressive feature debut with a gripping adaptation of the 2016 Lize Spit bestseller’ (January 22, 2022, review).

Yesterday, “When It Melts”—originally titled “Het smelt”—premiered in Belgium where the film will be out in theaters on October 25. Kinepolis Film Distribution will distribute it.

An impression of the red carpet ceremonies yesterday in Antwerp with Veerle Baetens, her leading actors Rosa Marchant and Charlotte De Bruyne (who play young and adult Eva, respectively), other cast and crew members, and author Lize Spit.