Wishful Filming

Filmmaker Sarah Vanagt shoots with a small camera as she wanders through Brussels, where she encounters Polish, Iranian, Brazilian, Belgian, and Moroccan construction laborers, busy at work. At her request, they write notes addressed to future generations, and then hide them—beneath paving stones, inside pipes, or behind walls. Sometimes it’s a wish or reflection; sometimes simply a greeting from the present. One reads: “When you find this, I hope the world is a better place.”

Vanagt breathes new life into the centuries-old tradition of leaving messages on construction sites, with a focus on the conditions in which migrant workers in Brussels live today. Along the way she also films other postings in the city—printed on stickers, carved into walls, or written with markers.

This politically charged yet playful film captures a wander through the city that invites reflection. What message would you want to leave behind, and how might it change the city you live in? And could you have walked past a construction worker’s message without knowing it?