The Wall - Synopsis

It’s an absurd Belgian story, even more enormous in that it intervenes as we cross into the third millennium, at a moment when globalization of the economy, the media and information networks put the North Pole and the South Pole into permanent connection. But in Belgium, the North and South clash by tradition.

30 December 1999… Belgium, Brussels, somewhere at the frontier between the European capital and what we call in Belgium, « facility communes », the Flemish communes where many French speakers live, and who are accorded « facilities » (the right to obtain official documents in French). -Far too much in the eyes of the Flemish of all political tendencies. Albert, 35 years old, runs a « fritkot » (a chip house) installed on the frontier between Brussels and a facility commune. When he gives chips to the client, Albert is in Flanders, and when he throws them (his chips) into boiling fat, he’s in Brussels, on the French speaking side. Albert is a philosopher, but as he couldn’t find work in his field, he took over (making it prosper) the chip house belonging to one of his uncles. At this time unemployment hit 50% of the active population; there really were no more idiotic jobs anymore. Parties are Albert‘s favourite time. People stay out late, they’re always a little hungry, and they stop at his chip shop, one of the most highly reputed (people come from far away). We have to say that with his packets of chips, Albert gives out messages, “fortune cookie style”. Between two chips covered in “pickle” sauces, the customer finds little phrases inspired by the greatest philosophers. So the customer gets hope, moral reassurance.

The day before crossing into the third millennium, many people pushed in front of Albert’s counter to have a sign of what tomorrow would bring.

-Exceptionally, this 30 December, at closing, Albert accompanies one of his last customers in a drink, in Flanders, at Ivo’s, a friend. But more than the drink, there’s a certain Wendy that Albert’s interested in…The last drink becomes two then three…and the night passes by quickly…Albert ends up in a bedroom with Wendy. He can clearly hear odd noises outside but he’s too preoccupied to really worry about that. He’s in love with Wendy, the beautiful Flemish woman who gives herself to him.

On the morning of 31 December, Albert wakes up at Ivo’s with a hangover. Wendy has already gone. Albert has a lot of things to do to get ready for the New Year, get the goods in, cut the potatoes…His parents and sister are coming to celebrate this by giving him a hand, and his uncle too. It reminds him of the good old days.

But when he gets to the little square where his « fritkot » is, he discovers a horrifying view: the square is cut in two by an enormous very high wall, which now limits the frontier between the Flemish and the French speakers; a wall difficult to cross with guards perched at observation posts, watching now day and night so that nobody escaped. And, to make the aberration worse, Albert’s chip house had been cut exactly in two, because it was straddled on the linguistic frontier. In complete secret, and in common agreement, Flemish and French speakers in Belgium had decided to erect a wall in one night.
Albert thought he was dreaming; but in fact, no. His livelihood had been cut in two, out of use. He no longer had any work. All his family was on the other side of the wall. He wants to cross back to the French speaking territory at all cost.

But orders are strict: No one crosses to the other side of the wall; and those who found themselves on the “bad” side when the wall was erected will be educated, trained to become good dwellers.

For Albert, this is obviously an impossible situation; but the way people think changes quickly with events like this. His friend, Ivo refuses to help him cross to the other side, and he finds himself amongst those who want this “affectation”, Belgians who speak French with an affected accent to end badly, because the “witch hunt” is on already and the militia are carrying off French speaking families in cars for an unknown destination.

Albert must use all the treasures of his intelligence to join « his own people ». He finds Wendy who no longer recognizes her people and wants to flee with him.

But when they join up to cross to the other side of the wall, Albert and Wendy discover that the French speakers are behaving in the same manner with the Flemish speakers, and the craziness is everywhere. Wendy is carried of without Albert being able to do anything about it. Even Albert’s family resign themselves, arguing that, finally it’s not such a bad solution, and should have been done already a long time ago; that the French speakers can live without the Flemish speakers…..

Albert no longer hears. He leaves for abroad to organize a fight against the situation and catches the last train. As the clock strikes midnight, he crosses one of the European frontiers, which, as a cruel paradox, are open to free circulation of goods and people…