You are currently viewing « Tournant à Vézelay », première du film en France

"Shooting in Vézelay", the film's French premiere

To watch the film in French click here

The French version of the film "Tournant à Vézelay" was screened for the first time on Tuesday 13 May. The Dutch version was shown on Wednesday 14 May. The filmmakers were present for each evening. The audience - a full house on 13 May - loved the film, and the emotion in the room was palpable!

There will be a new evening broadcast soon.

Pilgrim on the road to Santiago de Compostela "...my arrival at Vézelay is engraved in my memory. Vespers had just begun, and the sound seemed to come straight from heaven. In this serene atmosphere I saw the light in a difficult period of my life. I'm always grateful for that... which is why I come here regularly. I often tell people that "Vézelay can be a turning point in a person's life".

The film "Tournant à Vézelay" was made by Dutch non-professional filmmakers Leo Baeten, Han Groen and Diny Vervoort. Leo Baeten initiated the film. A chemist by training, he has been filming since 1970. Leo has won several national and international awards for his films. He has walked to Santiago and Rome several times and worked as a hospital porter on the Camino. Leo has combined his fascination for cinema and pilgrimage in several films. For the film "Tournant à Vézelay", he was responsible for the script and editing.

Han Groen worked as a lawyer and district judge. To his passion for writing, poetry and photography, he added filmmaking after retirement. Since then, Han has become an experienced drone filmmaker. Because of this expertise, Han was invited by Leo to collaborate on this film. He did just that, but he also made a major contribution to the content of the film. For 'Turning at Vézelay', Han wrote the texts for the commentary and the poem is also his own.

Diny Vervoort was a French teacher at a secondary school. Like Leo, she took part in the Santiago pilgrimage. Diny cycled and walked the route and worked as a hostess. Diny and Leo met around 2000, when Leo's first film about the pilgrimage was in the spotlight. Diny has organised several of Leo's films. For the film 'Turning at Vézelay', Diny conducted the interviews and recorded the poem. What's more, her good knowledge of the French language enabled her to be the "go-to person" for making all the necessary arrangements. 

For the film presentation, Leo and Han provided beer and snacks to give the evening a Dutch flavour.

In the tradition of the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela, the evening is "donativo", i.e. there is no price. Everyone gives what they want, or not. Any takings will cover the costs of the evening.

It is advisable to book online. If there are too many people for the projection room at the Maison du Visiteur, the evenings will take place at the top of the village in the village hall under the Mairie. You will be notified.

We look forward to seeing you on either 13 or 14 May.