Our November pop-up falls on the eve of Kristallnacht. We gather to remember, and we offer this screening as a gift to our community.
Berre is a foley artist with an almost otherworldly ear, working on the radio dramas broadcast from Brussels’ Flagey building. Elza is the actress whose voice he records. Their romance is brief, and the two of them invent a language for it out of sound. It plays out against a chapter of Belgian history few Americans know: in the weeks before the German invasion, Belgian authorities arrested thousands of Jewish refugees who had crossed the border seeking safety. A love story told through sound, from Belgian director Frank Van Passel.
Frank Van Passel began this film by researching the history of Belgian radio at the Flagey building in Brussels, the Art Deco home of the national broadcaster. He built the story on archives from the Belgian national radio, survivor testimony, and the record of Europe’s early radio pioneers. Radio was the new medium of its moment, and the people who worked in sound were inventing what it could do. Van Passel’s first film, Manneken Pis, premiered at Cannes Critics’ Week in 1995.
“The Soundman is a love story in an ungraspable world, where sorrow and joy walk hand in hand — and where, ultimately, warmth prevails.” — Frank Van Passel, Director
In the rare event that a screening must be postponed due to weather or technical issues, ticket holders who contact us prior to our next screening will be eligible to exchange their ticket for a future screening if they cannot attend on the rescheduled date. Please contact [email protected] with questions or concerns.
To fulfill our mission to educate, inspire, entertain, and highlight the diversity and commonality of our community, we are pleased to share additional resources for you to explore!
