Henri Charles Francis Joseph Marie, 8th Duke d'Ursel (Henri, 8th Duke d'Ursel) (18 November 1900 – 31 May 1974, in Uccle) was a Belgian film director and writer. Henri d'Ursel was known for his surrealist style, directing the film ''La Perle'' early in his career.

Family

Henri d'Ursel was born in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

, son of the 7th duke of Ursel. During the 1920s, he lived in Paris at the height of the

surrealist Surrealism is a cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists depicted unnerving, illogical scenes and developed techniques to allow the unconscious mind to express itself. Its aim was, according to ...

and

avant-garde The avant-garde (; In 'advance guard' or ' vanguard', literally 'fore-guard') is a person or work that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society.John Picchione, The New Avant-garde in Italy: Theoretical ...

movements. He married princess Antoinette, the daughter of Louis Charles Marie de La Trémoille, the 10th Duke of Thouars. He became the brother-in-law of Charlotte de La Trémoille and

Louis Jean Marie de La Trémoille Prince Louis Jean Marie de La Trémoïlle (8 February 1910 – 9 December 1933) was a French aristocrat. He was the 11th Duke of Thouars, 10th Duke of La Trémoïlle, 13th prince de Tarente, 17th prince de Talmond and 17th Count of LavalAlmanach ...

. They both separated and the marriage was annulled in Rome on 5 June 1936.État présent de la noblesse belge, Annuaire 2013, Brussel, 2013 p.5 After he inherited

D'Ursel Castle D'Ursel Castle ( nl, Kasteel van Hingene, also known as the ''Kasteel d'Ursel'') used to be the private summer residence of the Duke of Ursel in Hingene in the municipality of Bornem, province of Antwerp, Belgium. Today it is property of the State ...

he decided in 1970 to sell the large family estate, since generations in the family. In 1973 the local government of Hingene acquired the ducal estate for €372,000. He left the castle completely empty after he took all the valuable furniture out and deposed the complete family archive in the National Archives of Brussels. He was succeeded by his son Antonin, 9th Duke d'Ursel. The current Duke of Ursel, Stéphane, is his grandson.

Film career

In 1929 he wrote ''La Perle'', under the pseudonym "Henri d'Arches" (the duke of Ursel is

Prince of Arches and Charleville Prince of Arches and Charleville is a noble title associated with Charleville-Mézières in France and now held by the Duke of Ursel in Belgium. The title originates with Charles Gonzaga (Gonzagues), Duke of Mantua, who was also Duke of Rethel, a ...

), based on a story by Georges Hugnet. Of the filmmaking experience, D'Ursel later said it was made "in the flush of inexperience." Returning to Belgium, in 1937 d'Ursel and Louis Camu founded ''Le Prix de l’Image'', a precursor to film festivals of experimental cinema. At the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, he and Luc Haesaerts founded ''Le Séminaire des Arts'', a prestigious Belgian film club, and precursor of the ''Musée du cinéma de Bruxelles''. D'Ursel was a friend of both

Charles Dekeukeleire Charles Dekeukeleire (27 February 1905 – 2 June 1971) was a Belgian film director. He pioneered modern Belgian film with Henri Storck. He was inspired by French avant-garde cinema, particularly the works of Germaine Dulac. Biography Dekeukel ...

and

Henri Storck Henri Storck (5 September 1907 – 17 September 1999) was a Belgian writer, filmmaker and documentarist. In 1933, he directed, with Joris Ivens, ''Misère au Borinage'', a film about the miners in the Borinage area. In 1938, with Andre Thirifays ...

. He was for 25 years vice-president of the Belgian Royal Film Archive, until his death in 1974.

Honours

* Knight of the Order of Leopold. * Knight of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

. * Officer of the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, or ...

References

External links

Belgian Royal Film Archive

Belgian film directors

Hen Hen commonly refers to a female animal: a female chicken, other gallinaceous bird, any type of bird in general, or a lobster. It is also a slang term for a woman. Hen or Hens may also refer to: Places Norway *Hen, Buskerud, a village in Ringer ...

Belgian experimental filmmakers 1900 births 1974 deaths Members of the Royal Victorian Order Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur {{belgium-film-director-stub

Family

Film career

Honours

See also

References

External links