Territory of the Beings
one-channel video
16:9 full HD 50p, 08:26 min
2019

a film by Mirte van Duppen for KAAN Architecten

Set in the Brabantse Delta Water Authority building, this film takes a closer look at (human) beings during their process of annexing and exploring a certain terrain. Their territoriality helps create a structure, a level of predictability and stability in their – social – lives. They are continuously learning from their experiences, or copying their peers. What we see is a dialogue between beings in a sublime environment, one where all necessary elements in order to survive are present. Paying homage to the wildlife documentary, Territory of the Beings is imagined as a comprehensive survey of the beings (workers) in a modern ecosystem consisting of flexible islands (the office). The narrator takes you on a tour: displaying, analysing and describing their behaviour and how they tend to personalise, mark, occupy and defend their territory.

Made within the framework of MINUTES, a short film commission for KAAN Architects. MINUTES is a short film series portraying architecture through the lenses of international directors.

Cinematographer and Film editor

Mirte van Duppen

Script

Lotte Lentes

Text editor and voice-over

Grace Kyne-Lilley

Sound

Benedikt Wöppel

Color grading

Tom Fekkes

With thanks to the employees of District Water Board Brabantse Delta, Arend van der Meer, Hein van Stokkum, Hein van Duppen, Maritina Margini, Vincent Panhuysen.