Eden

Original Title|EDEN

40" | 2020 (Draft)

All images & Videos

(5 images)

An isolated suburban neighbourhood of (former) identical houses - constructed in the euphoric mood of the Brussels 1958 World Expo - provides the perfect arena to reflect on the urge of mankind to individualise one's surroundings.

synopsis

Eden, a suburban neighborhood near Antwerp, was constructed in the euphoric mood of the Brussels 1958 World Expo. Over 120 identical prefab houses were established to temporarily house the tourists visiting the Expo. After the exhibition the houses were sold to private individuals. What was once identical slowly individualised under the impulse of the private owners. Through a poetic and intimate exploration of both the outside and inside of the houses, we discover how people shape their lives and homes. This neighborhood seems the perfect arena to reflect on the urge of mankind to individualise one's surroundings and to strive for 'unique happiness'. Today Eden is surrounded by multinationals and shopping malls that scream that everything in life is for sale. But can we also buy happiness? And how unique are we in our pursuit for happiness?
In de Edenwijk, naast de A12 in Wilrijk, werden in 1958 een honderdtal identieke prefabhuizen opgetrokken. Wat identiek was, kreeg al snel een identiteit door zijn bewoners. Vandaag is dit ‘paradijs’ omsingeld door multinationals en winkelcentra die schreeuwen dat alles in het leven te koop is, ook geluk. Deze film is een ode aan het gewone in een wereld waarin alles steeds spectaculairder moet. Hoe koopbaar is geluk en is gewoon nog goed genoeg?