The Brussels Art Film Festival (Baff) highlights films about art and artists. Like In a Silent Way about Mark Hollis, the enigmatic singer of Talk Talk.
Mark Hollis (Talk Talk).
Brussels Art Film Festival: from Talk Talk to Martin Margiela
“Dear Gwenaël, I’m glad those records had such a positive effect on you. As for your proposed project, however, I would be completely against a film about those albums.” Like all journalists, filmmaker Gwenaël Breës, known for his urban activism and commitment to Cinema Nova, was politely but firmly rejected in writing by Mark Hollis.
The singer and composer (who passed away in 2019) scored solid synthpop hits like “Such a shame” in the early 1980s with Talk Talk. But he’s more interested in Miles Davis and Claude Debussy than Duran Duran or Ultravox. In the second half of the 1980s, you can hear that on the Talk Talk albums Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock. They were not commercial successes, but they paved the way for post rock and are, just like Mark Hollis’ solo records, admired immensely by the musicians of bands like Radiohead, Grandaddy, Grizzly Bear or Mogwai.
Despite the later recognition of his genius, Hollis refused every interview after 1998. Including the approach by Breës from Brussels. However, he will not be silenced by the British musician who regarded silence as an instrument. Even though he was not allowed to use Hollis’ music, he still made a fascinating documentary. In a Silent Way is one of sixteen documentaries competing for the grand prize at the Brussels Art Film Festival (BAFF).
The competition includes Bare, a film about Belgian choreographer Thierry Smits, Martin Margiela: In His Own Words about the Belgian fashion designer, and Son chant about the collaboration between director Chantal Akerman and cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton. Someone defends Hollis’ silence with the catchphrase “talking about music is like dancing about architecture”. BAFF proves that films can speak quite meaningfully about music and other arts.
BRUSSELS ART FILM FESTIVAL
10 > 14/11, www.baffestival.be
In a Silent Way: 12/11, 19.00, Cinematek, release: 24/11
Lees meer over: Film, Events & Festivals, Mark Hollis, Talk Talk, Martin Margiela, Brussels Art Film Festival, thierry smits
