Jean-Claude van Damme: Karate King ( 2023 )

Overview

An American low-budget action film celebrated an unexpected worldwide success in 1988: "Bloodsport". With its, the world of film fans and martial arts cinema discovered a new idol: Jean-Claude Van Damme. In the 1970s there was Bruce Lee, but at the end of the 1980s a Belgian won the day. Van Damme was a karate master and had unparalleled strength and flexibility. For ten years he was one of Hollywood's hottest action stars. But excessive overconfidence and drugs bring him down again. At home in Europe he becomes a laughing stock on talk shows. Only with "JCVD" does he manage to get back on his feet, playing his character with perspective and self-irony, but without ever giving up the reputation that his action films brought him and which has been a cult for several generations. The highs and lows of his eventful life are told through archive footage and contributions from people close to the popular Belgian actor.

Top Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Self - Portait Subject & Interviewee (archive)

Claude Goetz

Self - Interviewee

Philippe Graton

Self - Interviewee

Michel Qissi

Self - Interviewee

Monette Loza

Self - Interviewee

Marc Duvinage

Self - Interviewee

Vincent Fannoy

Self - Interviewee

Sheldon Lettich

Self - Interviewee

Cédric Delelée

Self - Interviewee

David Worth

Self - Interviewee

Ally Walker

Self - Interviewee

Mabrouk El Mechri

Self - Interviewee

Terry Crews

Self (archive footage)

Bolo Yeung Sze

Self (archive footage)

Darcy LaPier

Self (archive footage)

Jay Leno

Self (archive footage)

Frank Dux

Self (archive footage)

Olivier Monssens

Self - Narrator (voice)

Jason Statham

Self (archive footage)

Dolph Lundgren

Self (archive footage)

Chuck Norris

Self (archive footage)

Sylvester Stallone

Self (archive footage)

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Self (archive footage)