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ARCHIVE

10th(2008)



The Houses of Hristina

Suzanne RAES

  • The Netherlands
  • 2007
  • 50min
  • Beta, Digi-beta
  • color/black and white
  • Documentary

SYNOPSIS

Hristina is an illegal immigrant who came from Bulgaria to the Netherlands. She works as a housekeeper, who does household chores in the houses of Amsterdam. However, Hristina is not only a visiting housekeeper but also a photographer, taking pictures of the houses she visited and herself in them. The film focuses on Hristina, her workplaces (the houses in Amsterdam), and her photographing and its results. The film shows the viewers how an illegal immigrant sublimates her life artistically. Hristina and the owners of the houses she visits share a formal greeting or notes. After that, Hristina takes her cleaning tools and gets to work. The owners consider Hristina as a nonexistent figure, or a ghost that has to disappear when they get back home. To Hristina, the houses of Amsterdam are her public workspace and location spots for her photography. The film, by illustrating Hristina¡¯s photographs and working process, delivers the self-expression of subaltern with the subtlety of revealing a private space to the public. After this film, Bulgaria joined the European Union, Hristina became no longer an illegal immigrant but a full-time photographer. (KIM Sunah)
  

PROGRAM NOTE


Hristina is an illegal immigrant who came from Bulgaria to the Netherlands. She works as a housekeeper, who does household chores in the houses of Amsterdam. However, Hristina is not only a visiting housekeeper but also a photographer, taking pictures of the houses she visited and herself in them. The film focuses on Hristina, her workplaces (the houses in Amsterdam), and her photographing and its results. The film shows the viewers how an illegal immigrant sublimates her life artistically. Hristina and the owners of the houses she visits share a formal greeting or notes. After that, Hristina takes her cleaning tools and gets to work. The owners consider Hristina as a nonexistent figure, or a ghost that has to disappear when they get back home. To Hristina, the houses of Amsterdam are her public workspace and location spots for her photography. The film, by illustrating Hristina¡¯s photographs and working process, delivers the self-expression of subaltern with the subtlety of revealing a private space to the public. After this film, Bulgaria joined the European Union, Hristina became no longer an illegal immigrant but a full-time photographer. (KIM Sunah)
 

Director

  • Suzanne RAESSuzanne RAES

    "

    Born in 1969 and studied Cultural Science at the University of Amsterdam. She has been working asa director of documentaries since 1995. In her films she focuses on social issues and human

Credit

  • ProducerWillemien van AALST, Suzanne van VOORST
  • Cinematography Wiro FELIX
  • Editor Elja de LANGE
  • Sound Alex BOOY