Wednesday 11, January, 2023 18 h. -
Wednesday 11, January, 2023
The Filmoteca de Catalunya is showing the film Letters from Akyab, which coincides with the exhibition She, once and again by Eugènia Balcells, currently on at the Museu Can Framis.
This film honours Eugènia Balcells’ Burmese female ancestors. They had to hide their heritage in order to continue building their life in Europe, where they had been sent to study. The recognition and integration of this valuable life heritage endows meaning and coherence to the artist’s entire work.
The project arises from letters that were found in an old suitcase, after the death of her great-grandmother, who had hidden them all her life. In the letters written in Akyab (Myanmar), the spaces where her mother’s name should have appeared were blank, the words had been erased in order to keep the origin of the letters secret.
Based on a real event, from personal research, the film explores the relationship between East and West, women’s status and racial and social prejudice; the great wealth and humanity of barely-known traditions.
The film becomes a mosaic with different levels of interpretation, cultural heritage of universal interest.
After the screening there will be a discussion between Eugènia Balcells and Ramon Espelt (film researcher). Moderated by Eulàlia Bosch, curator of the exhibition Eugènia Balcells, She, once and again.
Date: Wednesday, 11th January, 6.00 p.m.
Place: Filmoteca de Catalunya. Plaça de Salvador Seguí, 1, Barcelona.
Supported by Filmoteca de Catalunya and Eugènia Balcells Foundation.
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