Balthasar

2009

The power goes off and the screen goes black: one of those innumerable moments of darkness when the buried memories from decades of conflict suddenly resurface. In the streets of Goma, children play at being news correspondents: Congo is preparing for its first democratic elections since 1960. Using a variety of sources, Sarah Vanagt collects elements from personal stories in a region torn apart by hatred and violence. Images and sound recordings taken by the children of Goma, TV news-clips and young soldiers’ accounts serve as her visual and audio material. Silent Elections is a documentary film on the memory and imagination of young Congolese on the eve of potential political change in their country.

Credits

40 min./ 16:9 / 2009

French spoken, with English and French subtitles

Director: Sarah Vanagt

Camera in Congo: Nyabwinja Daniel, Kobito Patrick Tonton, Chamatari Dodo, with the support of CEPV (Centre d’Etudes et de Production Vidéographique), Goma, D.R.Congo

Artistic director CEPV: Petna Ndaliko Katondolo

Editing: Inneke Van Waeyenberghe

Sound design: Pete Connelly

Scenography: Erwin De Muer

Silent Elections is a single-channel version of the video-installation Power Cut.

A production of Balthasar in co-production with the Centre d’Etudes et de Production Vidéographique (Goma), Argos Centre for Arts and Media vzw, Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Desire Productions vzw, KVS.

With the support of the Flemish Audiovisual Fund. www.balthasar.be

Distribution: www.argosarts.org

Balthasar

Silent Elections

Expo & Screenings