Brussels is an underworld love story. It’s a Belgian reimagining of the film adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,' modernized and transformed into a crime-drama-romance centered around rival Black gangs in present-day Brussels. Their conflict intensifies when they discover that members from each gang have fallen for one another, leading to an ultimate confrontation and the predictable aftermath. This is a particularly raw take on a familiar romantic tale. I’m not referring to excessive violence, although there are numerous fight sequences; rather, the sexual content felt too intense. Those familiar with Shakespeare's original work may find themselves disappointed, as Juliet’s portrayal feels jarringly realistic for an underworld setting. However, those open to updated classic stories might appreciate the effort put into this version. Ultimately, it functions more as a gangster film than a romance. The title is simple and doesn't hint at its connection to 'Romeo and Juliet,' unless you seek out information like the synopsis or reviews elsewhere. Aside from being set in Belgium’s capital city, the actors and director didn’t quite meet my expectations. It lacks the expected Dutch/Flemish atmosphere, instead feeling more akin to a Middle Eastern setting. The film focuses on African immigrant characters—primarily first- and second-generation Moroccans and Black Africans—highlighting racial divisions. The initial portion of the movie wasn't as strong as I’d hoped, but it improved once the romantic elements emerged. > "You were born here, but you're still different. > You will always be a foreigner." I didn’t sense the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ vibe because this isn’t really an adaptation; rather, it loosely borrows the original plot. Don’t expect familiar scenes or storylines to appear. A key consideration before watching is that this is not suitable for families or children, nor would I recommend it as a date movie. I didn't dislike it, but I feel it could have been better overall. The acting was good and the production quality high. Story-wise, there are no surprises because we all know how the story begins and ends; however, the presentation on screen is different with altered scenes and characters, as well as locations. Therefore, the filmmaking itself is more noteworthy than the plot—aside from its divergence from Shakespeare’s original narrative. This film falls into a category where I wanted to like it and rate it higher, but couldn't quite do so. The source material was a tragedy about feuding families, but this version has evolved into an ethnic conflict that feels inappropriate for today’s world. As a piece of filmmaking, it’s well-executed, and as entertainment, it’s just barely acceptable; however, the moral lessons imparted to young viewers are misleading. Everything considered, realism takes precedence, seemingly inspired by actual gang rivalries in Brussels. I only reached this conclusion after viewing the film's end report that appeared before the credits. It is a decent film—mostly decent, at least in my opinion—though views naturally vary from person to person. I’m not necessarily recommending it, but you might want to try it to see if it appeals to you. Finally, the song during the end credits was good. 6½/10

Source on TMDB