Conversations Film Project: #1, Brussels
Underground River (2021)
A film by Chloé Mossessian & Henry Mittnacht (Hank Midnight)
2 film excerpts ↴ Please contact to receive a private link to the full film.
In 1865, Brussels commenced a six-year project devoted to burying the Senne: a river in the heart of the city which had become so polluted during the Industrial Revolution that officials deemed it a public health hazard.
The story of the burying of the Senne is one which demonstrates our separateness from nature both literally and figuratively. Within each of us is a buried river— a buried consciousness— submerged beneath the same antipathetical currents of separateness which drove the Industrial Revolution.
The river flows on within all of us.
The story of the burying of the Senne is one which demonstrates our separateness from nature both literally and figuratively. Within each of us is a buried river— a buried consciousness— submerged beneath the same antipathetical currents of separateness which drove the Industrial Revolution.
The river flows on within all of us.
25 min / possible loop screening installation
Original Soundtrack: Henry Mittnacht (Hank Midnight)
Editing: Chloé Mossessian & Henry Mittnacht (Hank Midnight)
Soundtrack mastering: Sarah Register
Super 8 processing: Color Film Archives
In partnership with the Sewer Museum of the City of Brussels & the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Thank you François Huet, Odile Repolt, Jennifer Douzenel, Vincent Huet, Antoine Huet, Ariane Martens, Didier Martens, Ku Tzu-Chun, Manuel Neves, Erwan Bout, Sarah Register, Jane Paik, Katerina Papadopoulos
Underground River’s soundtrack
is available to stream on Spotify ↴
and to purchase on Bandcamp ↴
Residency Huet Repolt studio views
Underground River’s 11 Sequence-Collages
Series of 11 collages from the 11 sequences of the film
21x29,7cm
Cut work prints from the film on paper
Natural oak frame
4/11, 7/11, 10/11 are part of François Huet & Odile Repolt’s private collection.