by Steven Seedo
PARAMARIBO — “Eugène was someone with a very unique appearance. He brought something of himself to a role and that made him recognizable.” This is how Eugène Aarland described by filmmaker John Slagveer in conversation with the True Time. Aarland, who played a prominent role in the development of Surinamese film, died on September 9 at the age of 81.
The collaboration between Aarland and Slagveer spanned several film productions. He was seen in, among others, ‘Tense Breasts’, ‘Voice from the Grave’, ‘Hidden Tears’ and ‘Tears with Time’. “We have worked on several productions together,” agrees Slagveer, who looks back on the actor with appreciation. “For me, his death means saying goodbye to a colleague, with whom I shared an important part of that film period.”
“Eugène brought something of himself to a role and that made him recognizable”
Filmmaker John Slagveer
Aarland’s biggest film role came in ‘Hidden Tears’ from 2003. He played the leading role in that Surinamese cinema film. The film was directed and written by Slagveer and was made under Surtefilm Productions. ‘Hidden Tears’ is one of the productions from a period in which Surinamese filmmakers made films from their own country and thus created space for local actors and stories.
Aarland was also a well-known face in the Surinamese entertainment world outside the silver screen. He was active as a singer and was known to the public as the ‘Surinamese Ben E. King’, because of his renditions of songs by the American soul and pop singer Ben E. King. He was also a showman and sportsman.
