A FILM BY CATHERINE VERTIGE & KOSTEN KOPER
Low-rez preview
Duration:54'00. Country / Year: Belgium / 2007. Language: Dutch / English / French (w/ English subtitles). Shooting Format: DV / 8mm / Hi-8. Aspect Ratio: 4:3, B&W/Colour. Sound Mix: Mono. Produced by More Talent Than Space & Komplot. Supported by Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF).
SYNOPSIS: Belgium is a country well noted for its 'vagueness' and taking this into account, this Belgian film delves into the world of 'quasi' cultural forms.
One of the vaguest notions in the cultural lexicon is that of the 'collective' and this film explores, through a non hierarchical system of montage, collective art actions in Belgium and their intersection with dominant and subcultural political and cultural ideologies that brushed against them.
The film is neither an obituary for cultural idealism nor a bittersweet tale of Utopian dreams of a 'better way of life' but a series of encounters raising questions about the collective archetypes which emerged during its research and shooting : ranging from micro-institution, family, enterprise, political party to the orgy.
"Is it alive, or is it dead?" is what Alain Resnais stated was the only question worth asking in art and thus this film uses its medium as a tool of research to consider the worth and the worthlessness of history.
'Sad In Country (Part 1)' covers five Belgian collectives : Agency (Brussels, 1992-), Building Underwood (Brussels / Caudies, 1999-2001), VAGA / A379089(Antwerp, 1968-1969), Club Moral (Antwerp, 1981-2005).
Interviewees : Kobe Matthys (artist, Agency), Kasper Koenig (Director of Ludwig Museum, Koln, A37908), Anny De Decker & Bernd Lohaus (Wide White Space Gallery, Antwerp), Isi Fiszman (collector, VAGA, A379089), Danny Devos (artist, Club Moral), Anne-Mie Van Kerckhoven (artist, Club Moral), Jacques Ambach (artist), Simona Denicolai & Ivo Provoost (artists, Building Underwood), David Evrard (artist, Building Underwood).
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View 'Sad in Country (Part Two)' (50'00, Belgium, 2008): vimeo.com/28704874