Peter Delpeut (b.1956) is a Dutch author and filmmaker currently living in Amsterdam. He has written four novels, several essay books on art and film, and two lyrical books about long distance cycling.  For his debut novel in 2007 he was nominated for the Gerard Walschap Prize and awarded the Halewijn Prize. He has made critically acclaimed and prizewinning films in many genres: found footage, documentary and features. He studied philosophy and film theory, graduating from the Dutch Film Academy in 1984 before serving as editorfor film magazines Skrien and Versus. From 1988 to 1995 he worked as curator and deputy-director for the Netherlands Filmmuseum (now Eye), famous at the time for its revolutionary color preservations of films from the silent era. In 2005 a retrospective of his film work was presented in Washington, New York and Berkeley.

Delpeut examines how distorting memory can be, tests the [accusatory] claims against the work of Mekas in his films, diaries, poetry, and testimonies. His book is a fascinating case of historical criticism.—Art Magazine Flanders Whatever track Delpeut follows, whatever line of reasoning he tries, he will not arrive at a complete understanding, let alone an unequivocal judgement. His thoughtful, vulnerable, meandering attempts fascinated me. The failure of Jonas Mekas's rehabilitation ensured that this book about him was successful.—De Groene Amsterdammer Radical subjectivity is the basis of Mekas's work. Delpeut struggles with his admiration for Mekas. “My hero must not be a liar,” says Delpeut. How is he to judge Mekas' past? A man writes about a man who has written about a man who made movies about his memories. Such a topic is difficult to describe. The book contains many, all equally interesting aspects.—Trouw Zeitgeist"Not another study of Mekas’s work, but a reflection on Mekas’s past and his media image, the role of the historian, the way collective and individual memories work, and certain events that happened in Lithuania during the Second World War. ... This book is absolutely timely and essential, raising key questions about memories and the way to record, collect, or relate them. It is also about silence and trauma, about not being able to remember or revisit past experiences, about history and subjectivity, and about individual responsibility too. And it certainly invites us to reconsider the life and work of one of the twentieth century’s major film artists." —Muriel Tinel-Temple, Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen MediaPraise for Past Works:Delpeut is an acclaimed Dutch author frequently reviewed in the most highly circulated periodicals and magazines, including Esquire, Literary Netherlands, De Groene Amsterdammer, and other international publications. His work has been called "exceptionally mature," "mysteriously beautiful," and himself a "careful and visual writer," "skilled" in observation of the minutest detail.Delpeut writes in a meandering, micro-detailed way, but also with fascinating mindfulness; he forces you to look far from our present hectic existence…. Delpeut does not impose anything. He leads the way. And the road is fascinating all the way to the end.—Esquire, Netherlands

• memories Michael CasperMekas revisitedcharisma diary oral historymagazine the forest of Astravastrauma trust documentarysettle the scoresBibliographyAcknowledgments

Peter Delpeut (b.1956) is a Dutch author and filmmaker currently living in Amsterdam. He has written four novels, several essay books on art and film, and two lyrical books about long distance cycling.  For his debut novel in 2007 he was nominated for the Gerard Walschap Prize and awarded the Halewijn Prize. He has made critically acclaimed and prizewinning films in many genres: found footage, documentary and features. He studied philosophy and film theory, graduating from the Dutch Film Academy in 1984 before serving as editorfor film magazines Skrien and Versus. From 1988 to 1995 he worked as curator and deputy-director for the Netherlands Filmmuseum (now Eye), famous at the time for its revolutionary color preservations of films from the silent era. In 2005 a retrospective of his film work was presented in Washington, New York and Berkeley.

Delpeut examines how distorting memory can be, tests the [accusatory] claims against the work of Mekas in his films, diaries, poetry, and testimonies. His book is a fascinating case of historical criticism.—Art Magazine Flanders Whatever track Delpeut follows, whatever line of reasoning he tries, he will not arrive at a complete understanding, let alone an unequivocal judgement. His thoughtful, vulnerable, meandering attempts fascinated me. The failure of Jonas Mekas's rehabilitation ensured that this book about him was successful.—De Groene Amsterdammer Radical subjectivity is the basis of Mekas's work. Delpeut struggles with his admiration for Mekas. “My hero must not be a liar,” says Delpeut. How is he to judge Mekas' past? A man writes about a man who has written about a man who made movies about his memories. Such a topic is difficult to describe. The book contains many, all equally interesting aspects.—Trouw Zeitgeist"Not another study of Mekas’s work, but a reflection on Mekas’s past and his media image, the role of the historian, the way collective and individual memories work, and certain events that happened in Lithuania during the Second World War. ... This book is absolutely timely and essential, raising key questions about memories and the way to record, collect, or relate them. It is also about silence and trauma, about not being able to remember or revisit past experiences, about history and subjectivity, and about individual responsibility too. And it certainly invites us to reconsider the life and work of one of the twentieth century’s major film artists." —Muriel Tinel-Temple, Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen MediaPraise for Past Works:Delpeut is an acclaimed Dutch author frequently reviewed in the most highly circulated periodicals and magazines, including Esquire, Literary Netherlands, De Groene Amsterdammer, and other international publications. His work has been called "exceptionally mature," "mysteriously beautiful," and himself a "careful and visual writer," "skilled" in observation of the minutest detail.Delpeut writes in a meandering, micro-detailed way, but also with fascinating mindfulness; he forces you to look far from our present hectic existence…. Delpeut does not impose anything. He leads the way. And the road is fascinating all the way to the end.—Esquire, Netherlands

• memories Michael CasperMekas revisitedcharisma diary oral historymagazine the forest of Astravastrauma trust documentarysettle the scoresBibliographyAcknowledgments

Peter Delpeut (b.1956) is a Dutch author and filmmaker currently living in Amsterdam. He has written four novels, several essay books on art and film, and two lyrical books about long distance cycling.  For his debut novel in 2007 he was nominated for the Gerard Walschap Prize and awarded the Halewijn Prize. He has made critically acclaimed and prizewinning films in many genres: found footage, documentary and features. He studied philosophy and film theory, graduating from the Dutch Film Academy in 1984 before serving as editorfor film magazines Skrien and Versus. From 1988 to 1995 he worked as curator and deputy-director for the Netherlands Filmmuseum (now Eye), famous at the time for its revolutionary color preservations of films from the silent era. In 2005 a retrospective of his film work was presented in Washington, New York and Berkeley.

Delpeut examines how distorting memory can be, tests the [accusatory] claims against the work of Mekas in his films, diaries, poetry, and testimonies. His book is a fascinating case of historical criticism.—Art Magazine Flanders Whatever track Delpeut follows, whatever line of reasoning he tries, he will not arrive at a complete understanding, let alone an unequivocal judgement. His thoughtful, vulnerable, meandering attempts fascinated me. The failure of Jonas Mekas's rehabilitation ensured that this book about him was successful.—De Groene Amsterdammer Radical subjectivity is the basis of Mekas's work. Delpeut struggles with his admiration for Mekas. “My hero must not be a liar,” says Delpeut. How is he to judge Mekas' past? A man writes about a man who has written about a man who made movies about his memories. Such a topic is difficult to describe. The book contains many, all equally interesting aspects.—Trouw Zeitgeist"Not another study of Mekas’s work, but a reflection on Mekas’s past and his media image, the role of the historian, the way collective and individual memories work, and certain events that happened in Lithuania during the Second World War. ... This book is absolutely timely and essential, raising key questions about memories and the way to record, collect, or relate them. It is also about silence and trauma, about not being able to remember or revisit past experiences, about history and subjectivity, and about individual responsibility too. And it certainly invites us to reconsider the life and work of one of the twentieth century’s major film artists." —Muriel Tinel-Temple, Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen MediaPraise for Past Works:Delpeut is an acclaimed Dutch author frequently reviewed in the most highly circulated periodicals and magazines, including Esquire, Literary Netherlands, De Groene Amsterdammer, and other international publications. His work has been called "exceptionally mature," "mysteriously beautiful," and himself a "careful and visual writer," "skilled" in observation of the minutest detail.Delpeut writes in a meandering, micro-detailed way, but also with fascinating mindfulness; he forces you to look far from our present hectic existence…. Delpeut does not impose anything. He leads the way. And the road is fascinating all the way to the end.—Esquire, Netherlands

• memories Michael CasperMekas revisitedcharisma diary oral historymagazine the forest of Astravastrauma trust documentarysettle the scoresBibliographyAcknowledgments