Su 06 Dec 09

Film Program Rotterdam Classics – Rotterdam Metropolis

The Rotterdam Municipal Archives and film theater Lantaren/Venster present, in the series Rotterdam Classics, a film program at the 4th IABR.

In October, November and December, the film program "Rotterdam Classics," organized by the Rotterdam Municipal Archives and Lantaren/Venster, is dedicated to the IABR theme of the Open City. It encompasses different shows with a number of remarkable shorts that provide an image of the historical transformation of Rotterdam. Moreover, the films reveal parallels regarding changes of urban space and developments in cinema. They reflect upon the environment, while at the same time they themselves are also part of the history of Rotterdam, as an Open City. The shows are introduced by curator Floris Paalman, researcher at the University of Amsterdam.

Rotterdam Metropolis
In 1959 the city of Rotterdam decided, as he first one in the Netherlands, to build a metro, in order to solve the problem of rapidly growing traffic. The project became a symbol of progress and an icon of the metropolitan ambitions of Rotterdam, which was largely supported by the media. The department of Public Works (Gemeentewerken), which carried out the project, played also an active role in this respect. Its own phototechnical service recorded the construction works on film, and it commissioned others to do so as well. In this way, Peter Alsemgeest, working for Cinecentrum in Hilversum, followed the building process during several years, which he explained accurately through an episode film. It contributed to the broad support that the metro came to enjoy; the metro was soon extended, which was reported by Alsemgeest again.

program (duration 85'):
• introduction (Dutch): Floris Paalman
• Metro (1968) – 30'/16mm/b-w+cl/English, dir.: Peter Alsemgeest, prod.: Cinecentrum
• Bouwen tussen de mensen {Building amidst people} (1975) – 19'/16mm/cl/English, dir.: Peter Alsemgeest, prod.: Cinecentrum
• Metro Oost-West {Metro East-West} (1982) – 19'/16mm/cl/English, dir.: Peter Alsemgeest, prod.: Cinecentrum

date: 6 December, 3pm
admission: € 7,- / € 5,-
venue: Lantaren/Venster, Gouvernestraat 133, 3014 PM Rotterdam
reservations: +31 10  2 77 22 77
www.lantaren-venster.nl

Earlier on the film program:
Sunday 4th of October: City For Sale
Sunday 8th of November: A View From Afar, Rotterdam As An International Model City