Who was Augustin Desombres? Eccentric artist? Inter-dimensional traveler? Though nearly impossible to answer this, this book/DVD attempts to shed light on one of the few men believed to have crossed the threshold between France of the late 19th century and the world of the Obscure Cities. Mary Von Rathen, a main character from the Obscure Cities stoires, was involved in making the rare documents contained within this volume.
This is a uniquely packaged DVD/booklet combination pack. The book is 32 page hardcover book featuring scans of original letters and journal entries, as well as sketches and finished works by the mysterious artist. On the DVD are: the medium-length film the Desombres Business, a series of clips extracted from or inspired by the “Obscure Cities” stories: Urbicande, Brüsel, Alaxis, and The Leaning Girl, plus an amazing short film of Benoît Peeters and François Schuiten creating a page from "The Shadow of a Man." Composer Bruno Letort collaborated with Schuiten and Peeters and is interviewed in the documentary produced by Peeters himself.
Casterman editions
Welcome to the Obscure Cities Library. Here you will find the selection of books, portfolios, audios and videos that combine to tell the story of this amazing world.
This section spotlights the the DVD and online films, both experimental and commercial, that help tell the stories of the Obscure Cities.
L'affaire Desombres (The Desombres Affair)