While a good number of films shot at the Western Front in Belgium during the First World War survive, the number of (surviving) films from German-occupied Belgium is very limited. The film 1917 Val Duchesse is therefore a rare treasure. Next to Les Restaurants bruxellois (1919), a 40-minute documentary about food relief, it is the only remaining film documenting civilian life in occupied Brussels.
The film was shot on the occasion of a lavish charity garden party thrown by the Spanish ambassador to Belgium, Rodrigo de Saavedra y Vinent, Marqués de Villalobar (1864-1926), on 8 September 1917 at Val Duchesse in Auderghem (Brussels). Villalobar used his status as a representative of neutral Spain to advance several initiatives aimed at alleviating civilian suffering. His activities relied on the goodwill he enjoyed in diplomatic circles and Belgian high society, as well as among the occupying authorities. The fact that he maintained an excellent relationship with Oscar von der Lancken (1867-1939), head of the political department of the occupation administration in Belgium, most likely explains why this garden party could take place under the eyes of the occupiers without their presence being required. The then-recently restored estate of Val Duchesse was made available to Villalobar by its owner, the wealthy financier Charles Dietrich (1865-1939).
The exceptionally grand and luxurious party (including a bazaar, an open-air theatre performance, and musicians performing on Venetian gondolas) was aimed at raising money for Belgian and French war orphans. On the guest list we find politicians, diplomats, nobility, artists, clergy, and a group of war orphans. No representatives of Germany were present. The guest of honour was Cardinal Mercier (1851-1926), whose patronage assured the presence and generosity of Belgian high society. Christian Clauss recently published an account of the garden party in his book Histoire contemporaine de Val Duchesse (Homes International, 2017).
In many ways, the film contradicts the widespread image of “poor little Belgium” as a devastated war-struck country. While the film may have served to heighten Spanish prestige internationally, it was certainly not conducive to Belgian propaganda at a time when the country was relying on international food aid. The grandeur of the party is mind-boggling, and in sharp contrast with the living conditions in occupied Brussels. The winter of 1917 marked the height of the food crisis; in Brussels alone some 65,000 meals were being distributed on a daily basis to save the population from starvation.
Except for the intertitles, the film is largely unedited. It was produced by A. Meuter & Diaz, which most likely was a one-off joint venture of the Brussels laboratory Meuter and the Spanish firm (or individual?) Diaz. It was shot on 35mm Messter film stock. The film was recently donated to the Filmoteca Española by the Villalobar family. It was restored and digitized by the Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique.

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