JCVD (2008)

Directed by French Tunisian filmmaker Mabrouk el Mechri, JCVD (2008) is a crime drama that follows Jean-Claude Van Damme as a fictionalized version of himself. The former action star finds himself in dire circumstances as his career and family fall apart in his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. Struggling financially and unable to secure acting roles, Van Damme’s personal life also takes a hit when his ex-wife gains the upper hand in a custody battle for their daughter. In search of solace, he returns to Schaerbeek where he is still regarded as a local hero. While posing for photos with fans outside a video store, Van Damme witnesses a post office heist unfold across the street. He tries to intervene but is blocked by the assailants. Despite his efforts, the police officer who responds is forced to call for backup when Van Damme gestures for him to stay away through the window.

After the focus shifts to Van Damme, he heads to the post office in search of a much-needed wire transfer. However, he is met with an ongoing bank robbery. Along with other customers, he is taken hostage and things take a turn for the worse when the police mistake him as one of the perpetrators. Forced to assist in blocking a window, Van Damme’s actions earn him admiration from one of the robbers who happens to be his fan. He assumes roles of both a negotiator and presumed perpetrator while also discussing his career during a phone call as the leader of the robbers. In this conversation, he even demands $465,000 from his attorney handling his custody case. It remains unclear whether Van Damme’s intentions behind demanding this amount are self-serving or driven by his desire to appear as a genuine robber to both the thieves and police officers.