Portrait of a Place: Amsterdam by Quentin van den Bossche

Quentin on the making of film: 

More than anything, it was a cathartic exercise. A personal reaction to being suddenly grounded, with nothing to do. With the overwhelming response and messages flooding the media since this began, I personally struggled to find what it is I wanted to say about it. If anything at all. Rather, I walked the streets and observed what I could with what I had. Which somewhat became the goal - to examine, rather than comment. Thematically, it turned into a visual exploration of space and distance as set by our new way of life, which I underlined through wide angled compositions. The empty cobbled streets of one of Europe’s most vibrant cities was an image I hadn’t seen since photographs of the 2nd World War, albeit with less physical destruction. Which in turn inspired the black & white aesthetic. I found that it highlighted the contrast found in this emptiness, and created a paradoxical experience where I was both present and felt removed at the same time.

On the whole, I wanted to convey the sense of eeriness while playing it up into something beautiful that can be appreciated, if only briefly. And create a peaceful meditation on the status quo that invites viewers to just sit back and observe. The oral cover of Claire de Lune by the Swingle Singers, which I was attracted to very early on, was a piece that gave the edit a touch of humanity by filling the void left behind by people.

I was personally moved by the city’s gentle pulse. The calm conveyed more a sense of hibernation rather than an apocalyptic feel. We live in a world that has been set on pause, as opposed to completely switched off - and there’s hope in that.