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.
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
Jean-Claude van Damme: Karate King is a documentary, tv movie film released in 2023 exploring themes of biography, hollywood, hollywood star, usa cinema. Directed by Olivier Monssens, it stars Claude Goetz, Philippe Graton, Michel Qissi. 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.
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