Alden Biezen
1964 00:32:52 b&wThe Landcommandery Alden Biezen in Bilzen was built by the German Order. The impressive premises of the castle, which have now been turned into a cultural centre of the Flemish Community, were still abandoned when this documentary was made, collapsing under old age and aimlessness. Once the seat of the German Order in the Meuse Rhineland before the French Revolution brought about a tragic turn of events, the history of the building is contained in its walls, stairs, façades and corners. The rise and fall of the Teutonic knights, the reallocation of the monastery grounds, as rapid as they were radical, and their decline are explained with a text by Bart Mesotten, illustrated with fragments from Eisenstein’s ’Alexander Nevski’. Cornelis visualises the story of Alden Biezen as an anamnesis, exploring the domain and the building with great curiosity, looking for the past and signs of life and death –sighing under its repudiation, expelled from history, but touching our feelings like an intimate loss.
Directed by; scenario Cornelis, Jef
Contains footage from the film 'Alexander Nevski' by Eisenstein, Sergei
Text Mesotten, Bart
Voice Van Vlaanderen, Rudi
Voice Wilequet, Alex
Voice Geldof, Jeanne
1st assistant photography and camera van Rooy, Guido
Photography and camera Van Acker, Alfons
2nd assistant photography and camera Boeren, André
Music selection; programme director Steylaerts, Eddy
Sound recording Van Malderen, Jos
Sound recording Theunis, Mon
Sound recording Van West, Hubert
Special effects SETECT
Lab Laboratoire Meuter
With the collaboration of Ministerie van Landsverdediging, 15e smaldeel, Licht Vliegwezen
Studio manager Bergers, Wim
Lighting Bulterys, Willy
Graphics de Leeuw, Bert
Production Verdin, Herman
Produced by BRT
