Occupied City (2023)

November 30, 2023 (NL) • Documentary • 266m

Overview

The past collides with the present in this excavation of the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam: a journey from World War II to recent years of pandemic and protest and a provocative, life-affirming reflection on memory, time and what's to come.

Director

Steve McQueen

Writer

Bianca Stigter

Top Billed

Melanie Hyams

Keywords

based on novel or book amsterdam, netherlands urban life city life back to life observational documentary

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Melanie Hyams

Self - Narrator (voice)

Carice van Houten

Narrator (2024 version)

Crew

Eloi du Cinema

Camera Trainee

Jan Schermer

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Jan Schermer

Sound Designer

Bianca Stigter

Writer

Deen van Liempd

First Assistant Camera

Sophie van Caenegem

Line Producer

Koen van der Knaap

First Assistant Director

Danny van Deventer

First Assistant Camera

Laura Bell

Music Supervisor

Neeltje van der Heijden

Post Production Supervisor

Patrick Ghislain

Foley Mixer

Jos ten Klooster

Sound Recordist

Maxime Brun

Second Assistant Camera

Aukje Bink

Camera Trainee

Seretse Fulani

Second Assistant Camera

Maria Kramer

Sound Editor

Max van den Oever

Supervising Sound Editor

Peter Bernaers

Colorist

Floor Onrust

Producer

Julien Naudin

Foley Artist

Oliver Coates

Original Music Composer

Xander Nijsten

Editor

Bianca Stigter

Book

Melissa Martens

Second Assistant Camera

Clea de Koning

Executive Producer

Lennert Hillege

Director of Photography

Daniel Battsek

Executive Producer

Emily Osborne

Executive Producer

Bianca Stigter

Producer

Anna Smith Tenser

Producer

Susan Dolan

Associate Producer

Ben Coren

Executive Producer

Natalie Lehmann

Associate Producer

Barbara Truyen

Executive Producer

Joost Janmaat

Executive Producer

Michael Schaefer

Executive Producer

Adriana Banta

Executive Producer

Ollie Madden

Executive Producer

Ben Cotner

Executive Producer

Yariv Milchan

Executive Producer

Arnon Milchan

Executive Producer

Steve McQueen

Producer

Steve McQueen

Director

Noortje Wilschut

Associate Producer

Nico van den Brink

Vocals

Wessel Koster

Assistant Editor

Reviews

Lachlan Thiele

⭐ 7/10

May 18, 2023

EXT. IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM - DAY

Occupied City is redefining the 'Documentary' genre. This film is a series of stories passed onto Steve McQueen, now passing them onto us. It narrates those stories whilst giving us a glimpse into the current affairs in Amsterdam. This pure juxtaposition shows how far we have come yet how quickly we can turn back. The reason I've titled this review "It's Belongs in A Museum" is not because I have a ticket for the new Indiana Jones film here at Cannes (but it has little to do with that). This film isn't something to watch during a visit to the cinema; it should be on display somewhere, a four-and-a-half-hour loop of each moment, story, fact and stunning cinematography that this film has to offer.

Suppose I explain why I'm so optimistic about this film yet only giving it 3.5 stars. In that case, it's because, as a film, anything more than 4 hours without a narrative flow is a complicated watch. Still, as I said, this belongs in a museum or an art gallery on display for you to sit and watch for a moment; when you're ready, you can leave but come back anytime. Yet I was in a cinema for more than 4 hours. This film would still be compelling at 2 hours long, yet McQueen leaves nothing on the cutting room floor. There were moments in which I wanted it to be over, but then another story or particular shot would drag me back in. But within this film, there is a tighter, more cohesive narrative where the simpler/less impactful stories are excluded. But it seems that McQueen wanted a leg in the race for the longest film of the Decade award.

Overall, if you can watch this film, maybe not in cinemas but divide it up over four nights, giving you enough time to take in each story this film presents.

FADE OUT.

Added Shout out:
Thanks, Mr McQueen, for giving us an intermission; long, long films need to start having these baked in.

show less

Loading…

Occupied City (2023)

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Lachlan Thiele

Recommended Movies

Drawn Together

Project Hail Mary

The Last Sunrise

You+Me - Against the World

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

Rate This Movie

Rate This TV Show