This ode to the street – both the past and present – is a call to join forces in highlighting the beauty of the street in all its aspects, but also to work on the challenges we face as a society. Diversity, inclusion or tolerance are just some of the core values that are needed for this shared idea. Only then will we be able to truly speak of our common street.
‘Who owns the street’ is a short movie about the streets in Ghent, Belgium, in the past and present; an ode to the street as public space, but even more important, to her colorful everyday users.
The movie is a cooperation between urban think tank STR.AAT and documentary maker Laura Zuallaert. Special thanks to Fien Lauwers for montage, Tom Hoflack for the drone images, Emma Petillion for the text, Merel Vanoverbeke for the artwork, Jef Van der Burght for video support, Huis van Alijn and the Collectie van de Gentenaar for the archive images and everyone who contributed (Jeannine and Rudi, Odette, Muriel and Martine, Marjan and Otis, An, Sander and Pilar, Binnaz, Ayse, Rükiye and Ayse, Studio Malem (Koen Vromman and the kids), the petanque club and the ‘Fluweelstraat boys’).
This film was possible through financial support by the City of Ghent and Urban Innovative Actions, under the Cocreatiefonds project.
