C'Était ainsi...

In a quiet Flemish village, a cluster of aging oil‑press and mill buildings once sheltered the elderly and the needy. When the local landlord dies, Mr. de Beule purchases the whole site and gradually turns it into the only factory in town, replacing the humble workshops with a steam‑driven marvel. The arrival of the massive boilers and a gleaming engine captivates villagers from nearby hamlets, who gather to watch the monumental installation that promises a new era of light and progress.

Inside the low, dark hall, gears grind and belts whir as the steam machine roars to life each dawn. City workers shout commands in unfamiliar slang, prompting both confusion and fierce curses, while the village schoolmaster and clergy stand nearby, offering lessons and blessings. The relentless rhythm of pistons and pounding pilons reshapes daily life, drawing young locals to the factory’s promise and forcing the older generation to confront a future that leaves their old homes behind.