20/20 VISION: ASH WEDNESDAY

We mark Ash Wednesday, the day after mardi gras, with a double bill on the Carnival season. Transmitted from generation to generation and repurposed through time, its folkloric traditions have become an integral part of the legacies that shape us. Jan Vromman weaves together three generations of his family’s involvement in the local processions and parades, while Tine Guns directs our attention to the use of masks and costumes as a strategy for subversion. Both filmmakers address the political dimension of Carnival, where roles are reversed and streets are reclaimed through joy and chaos.

To Each His Own Mask, Tine Guns (2017)
BE, 42 min
No dialogue

Als reuzen sterven, Jan Vromman (2022)
BE, 78 min
Dutch, with English subtitles