In August 2015 I was invited to a wedding by my friend Tracy. I was introduced to the warm, unabashed approach to life of the Congolese community in Belgium and the Bantu concept “Ubuntu”: that you only really become human when you are connected to everything and everyone.

The concept of Ubuntu seems to intertwine with the desire to belong to a group and maintain a group identity in a changing environment. Showing the ambiance but also the silent moments in between, I tried to capture the feeling of an event that seems like a true celebration, focused on joy and ritual and not on the need for a perfect venue.

This project wants to place the viewer in an environment that most have experienced at one time or another at a wedding, party or a wake.

Read the full essay here.

What love at first sight is like at the age of 80? Against many odds: virtual, unexpected and thrilling. A year after the passing of his wife, Jean Vos (80) gathered his courage to look for love again. Going against the stereotype of being too old for Tinder, Jean gave the app a chance and found that the pool of potential dates was meagre. With more luck on Facebook Dating, it wasn’t long before he met 76-year-old Jeanine Stevens.  

The day Jean saw Jeanine’s photo, he sent her a “hello” without hesitation. Jeanine replied immediately. In no time, they were on the phone planning their first date. Since that day, a little over a year ago, they haven’t gone without seeing each other. With age comes the realization that time is precious. 

And so it is that these two lovers show a whole new world, at an age when the world usually gets smaller.“We enjoy the little things. I'm happy when Jean is happy. We have one big advantage: at our age we don't have to do anything anymore. We don’t experience the pressure that some young couples may experience. We simply enjoy each other's company" says Jeanine, to whom the unexpected love with Jean feels like the blessing she was waiting for all her life.

Documentary