Lieven Gevaert, Eerste arbeider

Arno's contract with an oil company in the Sahara desert has come to an end and he's planning to return to Europe. On his way to the harbour his car breaks down and he's unable to get it running again.

A pessimistic urban drama, with a musical score by Jack Sels and Max Damasse, charts in strongly expressionistically lit black-and-white images the wanderings of a tormented man through the cosmopolitan port city of Antwerp. The only people to show him understanding are an orphan and two disillusioned women.

Filippi is a circus clown who lives a double existence: on stage he is successful and beloved, but privately he is consumed by jealousy and emotional fragility. He is in love with Arlette, a trapeze artist, but she prefers his rival Mario. When Filippi attempts to eliminate Mario, the situation spirals into tragedy, leading to Arlette’s death. Unable to cope with guilt, Filippi becomes trapped in a downward spiral of remorse, illusion, and emotional collapse. The story is largely told through flashbacks within the circus environment, blurring reality and memory.

The Carmelite Fathers’ mission in Travancore, India, struggles with countless challenges. Two natives, Thomas and Jais, marry, yet happiness eludes them. Thomas abandons his wife and child, leaving Jais devastated. Overcome by grief, she dies, and a cross is placed on her grave—the enduring symbol of eternal hope.