Movie magic

All the while, promoting Chinese films was her hobby, and many of the films were kept at her home. It wasn't until last year that the archive started to keep her collections. "I am quite relieved that these treasures have finally a safe place, with the proper temperature, humidity and light," she says.

Because of her love of Chinese culture, Royere tried to learn Chinese but after one year and half studying, she couldn't cope with working in a hospital, archiving the films and learning the language. "It was too much," she says.

Over the years, Royere has been a frequent traveler to China. These visits have fleshed out Royere's interest in China, which stems from her childhood. She used to read a lot of books by foreigners who lived in China in the early 1930s or 1940s. Among them was Elizabeth Comber, the daughter of a Chinese engineer and a Belgian woman, whose books unraveled China to Royere.

Royere says Comber studied medical sciences, like she did. And Comber also knew Belgium. "She is very close to my culture and so she is my favorite writer on China," says Royere.

Through her visits, Royere has come to realize that one great way of learning Chinese culture is by watching its films. "The language speaks but the images speak more," she says.

In 1986, Royere organized a trip for French- and Flemish-speaking television networks to buy Chinese films in China. They visited film studios in Beijing, Changchun, Xi'an and Shanghai. She also managed to help the Flemish TV station to buy a Chinese film Furongzhen (Hibiscus Town).

"It was quite interesting how that happened," Royere says. When she was at a hotel in Beijing, Royere bought an English translation of Furongzhen and had read part of the book before meeting Jiang Wen and Liu Xiaoqing, the stars of the film. By the time she met the director Xie Jin in Shanghai, Royere had finished the book.

And when the group finally saw the film, Royere could help them understand the film, ending up with the Flemish TV station buying the film.

The visit led to Royere introducing Chinese films at festivals in Belgium, and to bring Belgium films to China.

Over the years, Royere has spent most of her spare time and holidays on Chinese films. "I benefited a lot as I have made so many friends in China and have met a lot of people there," she says.

Dozens of Chinese actors and directors are now her close friends. "I know Jiang Wen very well and Siqin Gaowa is my 'sister'," says Royere.

Indeed, the time Siqin met her - and grabbed her arm - was at the Changchun Film Festival many years ago, where only a few foreigners attended.

Since then, Siqin has become close and recently entrusted her son to Royere while he was studying in Belgium.

In 2008, Royere organized a film festival in Brussels where six Chinese film directors attended.

When she was operating the film club at the Belgium-China Association, about 20-60 people came to watch films every month. Many people wanted to borrow films to watch at home.

"But now I don't want to lend to them as many have been damaged or stolen," says Royere. And many are irreplaceable, especially those on film and on videocassettes.

Royere says she is interested in films with social content. "I don't like films which are mainly entertainment," she says. "Gardening, cooking and reading are my other interests."

She is now planning another film festival, using the resources under her network. But it is proving difficult as the Belgium government says it is difficult to get financial support as she is promoting Chinese culture. And the European Union says its mission is to promote European culture.

Next week, Royere is due to visit China again to attend a film festival, meet old friends and seek more support. But no matter what happens, her love for Chinese films is forever.

Last June, Royere was in China for the Shanghai Film Festival. "Of course, China has totally changed," she says.

But, she says, one thing about China hasn't changed: "This is that Chinese people are still hard working and full of energy."