Jeroen Olyslaegers’ novel WIJ to the silver screen

Last March, we enjoyed the novel WIJ (WE) by Jeroen Olyslaegers (photo by Koen Broos). With this amazing novel, Jeroen Olyslaegers definitely made his comeback to literature. The novel was very well received. HUMO wrote: ‘With his style, themes and narrative force, Olyslaegers is a worthy bastard son of the great Hugo Claus. WIJ is a gift to both Dutch and Flemish literature.’

Menuet, Dirk Impens’ film production company, has taken an option on the film rights to WIJ. In the past, Dirk Impens has already produced important cinema versions of Flemish novels: Daens, Villa des Roses, Alles moet weg and De helaasheid der dingen.

The option on the film rights is a new success for WIJ and for Meulenhoff Manteau. Last year, the Slovenian translation rights to the novel were sold. Today, WIJ is still a nominee for the Gerard Walschap Literature Award 2010. And as of 14 February, Jeroen Olyslaegers will participate in Chagrin d’Amour, the annual event of the Flemish art centre Behoud de Begeerte.