COMBAT DE BOXE

by Charles DEKEUKELEIRE
1927 / 35mm / b&w / silent / 1 screen / 7' 30

"My first film, Combat de boxe (...) I shot it in a single day (...). In this film, all attention is focused on the rhythmic element, which, through this alone, aims to capture the atmosphere of a fight." — Charles Dekeukeleire

"A birth at last, in a country of aborted filmmakers." — Paul Werrie

At just 22 years old, driven by his passion for cinema, Charles Dekeukeleire directed his first experimental film. Inspired by the work of Belgian writer and poet Paul Werrie (1901–1974), he described his film as "a kind of lyrical poem in praise of sport." Produced with minimal resources and under precarious conditions, the film was shot in a painter friend’s studio. The boxing ring was a white sheet spread on the floor with a rope stretched in front of the camera, and the crowd was played by about ten of the director’s friends, lined up and changing hats and poses each time the last person in line passed by—all filmed from atop a cart.

The two boxers featured were former Belgian champions Henry Dupont and Jean Demey.

This short, magnificent film relies on close-ups, superimposition effects, alternating negative and positive footage, and rhythmic editing. The violence of the fight, the presence of the crowd, and the tension between the audience and the ring are conveyed through a dazzling, choreographic montage. The rapid succession of perfectly concrete shots transcends the literal to capture not the abstract, but the very essence of the fight—its signs, its gestures, and the concept of boxing itself.

"What perhaps most deserves to earn Belgian cinema a place in the history of cinematic art is the curious and bold initiative of Charles Dekeukeleire (...). This avant-garde cinematic poem caused a sensation at the time and remains one of the international successes of the genre. Dekeukeleire achieved striking effects through a skillful blend of positive and negative footage. With its original concept, flawless execution, and desire to break free from the ruts of conventional production, Combat de boxe reached universal acclaim. It is this small avant-garde film that remains the most valuable expression of Belgian cinematography of its time." — Jacques Polet

The restoration of Combat de boxe (1927) by Charles Dekeukeleire, carried out by the Royal Film Archive of Belgium (CINEMATEK) in 2025, was made possible thanks to the support of Belspo – the Belgian Science Policy Office and the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, as well as the support of players of the National Lottery.
The work has been carried out based on the original 35mm negative kept in the Royal Belgian Film Archive collections, where the film was digitised in 2K.

2 PRINTS IN DISTRIBUTION


distribution format DCP on server (SMPTE 2K)
screen 1,33 (single screen)
speed 25 fps
sound silent
rental fee 41,00 €

distribution format Digital file on server (FHD)
screen 1,33 (single screen)
speed 24 fps
sound silent
rental fee 41,00 €