6 Oct 2003

French Polynesia commemorates 25th anniversary of Jacques Brel's death

4:52 pm on 6 October 2003

French Polynesia has commemorated the 25th anniversary of the death of the Belgian-born musician, Jacques Brel, with the opening of a special display in the Marquesas islands where he is buried.

About 300 people attended the event in Atuona, on the island of Hiva Oa, where a space in a hangar has been dedicated to Mr Brel.

In it, personal belongings have been put on display, including his restored Beechcraft airplane that is now a stand facing in the direction of his grave.

The news agency AFP reports that the items include film projectors as a reminder that Mr Brel arranged an advance screening on Hiva Oa of the movie, Bonnie and Clyde.

The Marquesas already have a cultural centre dedicated to the French painter, Paul Gauguin.