
InSPILLIAERT,wejoyfullyrediscoveratastefortheinterwovenmixofgenresthatcaptivatedusinN.P(FID2020).LisaSpilliaertusesthepretextofaninvestigationintoherpotentiallysharedrootswithLéonSpilliaert,thegreatmasterofBelgianSymbolism,inordertocombineabrief,butlivelyportraitofthepainterwithanapproachwhichissensitivetohiswork,withajoyfulmeditationonnotionsofheritageandlineage,allsettotherhythmofherownrapmusic.Sinceitsinception,raphasbeenawayofrevindicatingidentityandhere,LisaSpilliaertseizesheropportunitytodosoliterallyandjoyfully.Thefilmopenswithabustshotofher,surroundedbyworksofart,paintingsandsculptures,herdeterminedgazefixedonthecameraassherapsfuriously.Herwordshittheairwiththesamevehementself-affirmationasthepaintingsofthemanwhosharesherinitials,andthesamesurname,whilethecameralingersonthemotifsbelovedofthepainter.Thedirectorintegratestraditionalbiographicalinterviews,documentarymaterial–archivesanddocumentsgeneratedaspartofhergenealogicalresearch–employingasensual,detailedapproachusingclose-upsofworksbyLéonSpilliaertandtheoblongformsofsculpturesbyherownsister.Incounterpointtothevisualmarriageofthesetwopictorialandsculpturalmaterials,adescendantofthepaintercommentsonthevoice-overonhisintimaterelationshipwithhisgreat-grandfather’swork.Thegenealogistsannouncetheirverdict:ifthecriterionusedisafamilytreeLisaandLéonarenotrelated.However,theheartofthefilmaffirmsthatthereisacommontrunkwhichunitesthepainterandthefilmmakerliketwobranchesreachingoutinthesamedirection–towardsart.