Metadata: Frans Buyens archives
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- Amsab – Institute of Social History
- Holding institution (official language):
- Amsab - Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis
- Postal address:
- Bagattenstraat 174, 9000 Gent
- Phone number:
- +32 9 224 00 79
- Web address:
- www.amsab.be
- Email:
- info@amsab.be
- Reference number:
- AmsabISH-Ghent-307
- Title:
- Frans Buyens archives
- Title (official language):
- Archief van Frans Buyens
- Creator/accumulator:
- Buyens, Frans
- Date(s):
- 1940/2004
- Extent:
- 11.5 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- This fonds is mainly relevant because of the files on plays, films and documentaries produced by Buyens-Chagoll and related to various subjects within the broad themes of Nazism and the Shoah. As well as correspondence (i.a. about the shoots, production, distribution, exploitation, reception, but also with interviewees), notes and documentation (i.a. about the topics, archival research, reviews) we find technical documents such as screenplays, scenario’s, budget estimates, documents concerning the montage, synchronisation, etc. For archival material concerning the program Een mens genaamd … Ernest Mandel (1972), see file nos. 409-410. For the play Sarah zegt … Leila zegt … (about children in concentration camps such as Auschwitz), see files 202-203 (years 1984-1985). For the feature film with the same name (1983), see nos. 947-970 (1980-2004). For De Stille Getuigen (1977), see nos. 630-632 (1975-1986). For In naam van de Führer (1977), see nos. 633-650 (1978-1993). For Kinderen achter prikkeldraad (1978), see nos. 651-668 (1975-2000). For Mechelen-Auschwitz (1979), see nos. 669-672 (1978). For Eens zullen de getuigen er niet meer zijn (1979), see nos. 673-684 (1978-2004). For Weten Waarom (1997), see nos. 709-804 (1973-2001). Among the general correspondence of Buyens we note correspondence with i.a. Ernest Mandel (no. 57, years 1957-1959) and David Scheinert (no. 50, 1956). In the files no. 140, 141 and 143 we find files and correspondence concerning the participation of the above cited films at various festivals and retrospectives. Concerning the distribution and broadcasting of these films we also find correspondence with television stations in the Netherlands, Canada, East and West Germany and others, see nos. 324-330 and 350. Lastly we note, in the section “niet gerealiseerde werken” a file concerning “Breendonk, nazi-terror in Belgium” (no. 1139).
- Archival history:
- Deposit by Lydia Chagoll (2005).
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Frans Buyens (1924-2004) was born in a working class family in Temse. He interrupted his high school studies to work for the socialist metal workers’ union. During the Second World War he became active in the resistance. Buyens first worked in the famous Boelwerf. After the war he worked i.a. for the union, as a propagandist for the Volksgazet, as a salesman, sales representative, etc. The autodidact Buyens soon took his first steps in theatre (as author and director) and the literary world (novels, tales, essays). He founded the left wing cultural periodicals Voorpost (1948) and De Nevelvlek (1950), the artistic ensemble Pompei, the theatre Koperen Haan and the satirical magazine De Satan and became active in many other magazines and cultural organisations. His career as a director, producer and screenplay writer, for which Buyens is best known, began in 1958 when he started working as freelancer for the NIR. As a socially conscious and independent film maker he made both feature films (i.a. Sarah zegt … Leila zegt …), television programs (i.a. the series Een mens genaamd …, episodes of Het Vrije Woord), reports and documentaries (i.a. Mecheln-Auschwitz, Eens zullen de getuigen er niet meer zijn, Weten Waarom, …). He was often assisted by his second wife Lydia Chagoll, who also functioned as a producer and co-director in many productions. Their work would bring the duo Buyens-Chagoll international acclaim. Buyens was also active as the managing director of various distribution societies such as Iris Films Pacapo (1959-1984) and Films Lyda (1975-2004). He taught at the Rijksinstituut voor Toneel- en Cultuurverspreiding (1963-1971). In 2004 Buyens, who was already struggling with health problems, suffered a stroke and opted for euthanasia. (S. Vrielynck, Inventaris van het archief van Frans Buyens (D/2005/003), Gent, Amsab-ISG, 2012.)
- Access points: persons/families:
- Buyens, Frans
- Mandel, Ernest
- Scheinert, David
- Finding aids:
- S. Vrielynck, Inventaris van het archief van Frans Buyens (D/2005/003), Gent, Amsab-ISG, 2012.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
