Memento Mori
A short art film in collaboration with photographer Roger Ballen
The film is inspired by the work of the world-renowned photographer Roger Ballen who is known from his perplexing, gloomy black-and-white portraits of marginalized South Africans. Pictures that come to life, showing disturbing psychological studies of humans interacting in isolated and alienating environments. The viewer is left guessing about this world and in the process to question their own psyches, the dark and even the lighter side.
Images with fixed frames, contrast black-and-white and strong emphasis on the composition. Movements are generally minimal and repetitive. The unusual square format is yet another limitation of the world of the people portrayed, who live between bare walls and floors, with blankets that are too short and clothes that are scarce.
Ballen’s photographs are included in the collections of museums in New York, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. He is widely considered to be one
of the most important photographers of our time. www.rogerballen.com
See other collaboration with Ballen: the documentary ‘Selfportrait,‘ the short films ‘The Asylum’, and ‘Unleashed.’
Art film, 15 min. shot on 16 mm film, 2005, No dialogue.
A Peacefield Films Production. Producer, director Saskia Vredeveld, Photography Melle van Essen, Sound Design & editing Jandries Groenendijk
Dutch Film Fund and Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem. Dutch Film Festival, National and International Museums and festivals.