This miniseries presents three films that explore Europe’s most weighty and affecting political and social developments from the last century through a distinctly personal lens. With varying degrees of directness these films dwell on the mechanics of memory, personal history, propaganda, protest and activism. Much like the illustrated posters that form the subject of the temporary exhibition, When Walls Talk!, these films address the development and transformation of the public sphere in complex and engaging ways.

Federico Fellini’s Amarcord (1973) is a landmark of semi-autobiographical filmmaking that explores the landscape of memory and reflects on the impact of state and church on contemporary Italian life as well as on the spread and hold of fascism in the twenties and thirties. The film reminds us that what we remember may not always be factually true (in the sense that it ‘really happened’), but that it can nevertheless point to an affective and deeply reflective truth.

Agnieszka Holland’s Europa Europa (1990) is based on the remarkable memoir of Solomon Perel and tells the incredible and wrenching story of a German-born Jew caught between Soviet and Nazi repression before and during World War II. With great sensitivity and a surprising sense of humour, this film shows the effects of war, displacement and ideological indoctrination on the individual and the community.

Agnès Varda’s L’une chante, L’autre pas (1977), which has been called a ‘feminist musical,’ tells the story of the friendship and touching solidarity between two women from different social backgrounds, whose lives are affected by the French feminist struggle of the 1970s. Varda’s film is at once political and personal, purposeful and heartfelt, French and European.

Despite the fact that these films depict concrete historical time frames several of the topics addressed such as reproductive rights, anti-semitism, identity politics and nationalism continue to divide and unite European society and identity today.

Each film will be contextualised and commented on by film curator Anke Brouwers, who will highlight the significance of the film in cinematographic history and link it with the temporary exhibition.

Dr. Anke Brouwers is a lecturer, film curator and author. She teaches film history at KASK/School of Arts in Ghent. As of 2022 she is the host for the monthly Meet the Masters series for Filmfestival Oostende. She frequently writes essays on film history and film culture for Fantômas, Humbug and Anatomie van de Film. She has written a book on American silent cinema and the powerful women of the cinema’s first thirty years: Mooi zijn & zwijgen: de machtige vrouwen van de Amerikaanse stille film (2021).

To get the most out of each screening, join us from 18h00 for a free tour in English of our temporary exhibition “When Walls Talk” (limited places, registration required).

Programme:

Thursday, 6 October 2022 at

Amarcord (1973, Federico Fellini).

Thursday, 13 October 2022 at

Europa Europa (1990, Agnieszka Holland).

Thursday, 20 October 2022 at

L’une chante, L’autre pas (1977, Agnès Varda) 

All movies are screened in their original language and will be subtitled in English

Programme:

• Guided Tour of the Temporary Exhibition “When Walls Talk” ;             
• Entrance Auditorium ;             
• Introduction ;             
• Movie screening ;             
• Discussion and Q & A ;             
• End of the event