Programme 2

Rather than use narration or themes, the films by Frans van de Staak are based on structures that define new possibilities in action and causality.

Het bezoek is a retold account of a visit by a young woman to see two friends. A series of stereotypical ordinary actions and dialogues are filmed several times, on two different days, with staging changes. The different shoots have been alternated in the editing process, switching between shots with different tones, time periods, behaviours and meanings.

The first full-length film by Frans van de Staak, De onvoltooide tulp consists of 28 dialogues each interpreted by one actor and one actress, both amateurs. The staging and the interactions, the movements and gestures by the actors vary enormously from one dialogue to another to create a kind of catalogue. More than conversations, the exchanges of sentences (written by Frans van de Staak) are of such realism that the absurdity and comical nature of language is highlighted.