As part of the symposium Zero Hour? Reconstructing post-war Belgian cinema (21-22 February), we organize a film programme at CINEMATEK, the Belgian Royal Film Archive in Brussels. Together with Bjorn Gabriels (University of Antwerp) and Bénédicte Rochet (University of Namur) I curated five film screenings which will all be introduced by symposium participants. The film programme is now online on CINEMATEK’s website, in English, French and in Dutch.
The English-language web page does not include our accompanying programme text, so here it is:
In the aftermath of World War II, Belgium sought to rebuild itself from the ruins of conflict. While cinema attendance reached record highs in the newly established theaters during the post-war years, Belgian filmmakers contemplated what a local production and film culture could look like. The symposium and film program titled Zero Hour? Reconstructing Post-war Belgian Cinema examine their diverse responses.
Continuing a pre-war tradition, humor played a significant role. Brussels-based filmmaker Gaston Schoukens, known for his popular folk comedies, reflected on the resistance with the film Un ‘Soir’ de joie, while documentary filmmaker Henri Storck, in his only feature film Le Banquet des fraudeurs, wittily observed the establishment of the Benelux. Concurrently, waves of modern cinema emerged. Paul Meyer, with the neorealist work Déjà s’envole la fleur maigre, contemplated the lives of migrants in the Borinage region. André Cavens drew inspiration from the psychological landscapes of modernism for his poignant love story Il y a un train toutes les heures. The Belgian art documentary gained international recognition, with filmmakers such as André Cauvin, Henri Storck, and Paul Haesaerts contributing to this tradition. This legacy is also evident in experimental short films like Un autre monde (Serge Vandercam, Christian Dotremont, and Henri Kessels) and Perséphone (Luc de Heusch).
Friday 9 February, 19:00-21:00
Déjà s’envole la fleur maigre (Paul Meyer, 1960)
With an introduction by Gertjan Willems (University of Antwerp/Ghent University)
Friday 16 February, 19:00-21:00
Le banquet des fraudeurs (Henri Storck, 1952)
With an introduction by Jérémy Hamers (University of Liège)
Tuesday 20 February, 21:15-23:00
Un ‘Soir’ de joie (Gaston Schoukens, 1954)
With an introduction by Leen Engelen (LUCA School of Arts/KU Leuven) and Roel Vande Winkel (KU Leuven/LUCA School of Arts)
Wednesday 21 February, 19:00-21:00
Un autre monde (Serge Vandercam, Christian Dotremont & Henri Kessels, 1958) + Perséphone (Luc de Heusch, 1951)
With a lecture by Steven Jacobs (University of Antwerp/Ghent University): Cobra Cinema: Perséphone and Un autre monde
Thursday 22 February, 19:15-21:00
Il y a un train toutes les heures (André Cavens, 1961)
With an introduction by Wouter Hessels (RITCS/INSAS)