The Timing Belt

Thomas has bad luck on the road: the timing belt of his car has snapped, his cell phone is dead, and a thunderstorm has broken out. It is also late. The only light in the vicinity comes from a dilapidated snack bar on the side of the road. He goes inside to take shelter and to look for help. It is just before closing time. The bar is empty except for one man. It turns out to be Ruben, Thomas’ first lover. Ruben is drunk. Both men have not seen each other for more than twenty years. As the evening progresses, it becomes clear that they still desire each other. But they do not manage to take any action. What begins as a love story derails into an exciting black comedy about power, desire, and the (im)possibility of truly connecting. De Distributieriem exposes how difficult it can be to connect in a society that consists of bubbles of like-minded people.