Carice van Houten provided the voiceover for the Dutch version of the Steve McQueen documentary Occupied city About daily life in Amsterdam under Nazi rule. But she caused a stir by signing an open letter calling on the government to “stop the genocide in Gaza” and impose sanctions on Israel. She later withdrew.
Publicist Ronit Palachi started an article on this topic Occupied city in WNL on Sunday With a notable aside. Before praising Steve McQueen’s film take on life in Amsterdam under Nazi rule, Palacci said she felt “sick” that Carice van Houten provided the voice-over for the Dutch version. “She wants to boycott Israel and uses the word genocide. She narrates a film about what genocide is. “I doubt she fully understood.”
Palache was referring to one on the website Cinema newspaper published Open letter – which, according to the initiators, has now been signed by more than a thousand Dutch directors and actors. The resolution calls on the outgoing government to stop the “genocide” and impose sanctions on Israel in a European context.
The broadcast caused a huge uproar on social media. “Carice Van Houten makes money from it Occupied city“But to Hamas,” was one of the many messages published, “but it appears that you are a ‘convert’ exposed to anti-Jewish views.” Norwegian Refugee CouncilColumnist Aileen Bilić is on the same page. “You can also defend the Palestinians without wanting to boycott Israel.”
Political colour
What Palache apparently didn’t know was that Van Houten’s name had already disappeared from the open letter before broadcast — and the same was true of the name of Floor Onrust, the film’s producer, and a handful of others. “Signing and removing her name is Karis’s decision. We did not exert any pressure,” said Pim Hermeling, director of distribution company September Film. Occupied city It will be shown in Dutch cinemas from November 30. “The decision that I, as a distributor, have or don’t want to have any say in; in my opinion, the political color and the ideas of the director and actors are always separate from the film.
Hermeling wants to “stick with the film,” because he’s proud of it Occupied city. “It’s a memorial. An ode to the city, it is important that the film be seen by as many people as possible. “It is a history that needs to be told, especially now.”
Van Houten himself wants to respond only in writing. “I cried while recording the voiceover for Occupied cityI cried on October 7th and I cry when I watch the news now. The suffering of every innocent person, especially children, touches my heart. Regardless of origin and/or religion.”
An emotional journey
And in the international version of the film. Occupied city, which had its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival last spring, and is narrated by British-Amsterdam voice actress Melanie Hyams. “This was an amazing opportunity to work with Carice Van Houten, one of the finest actresses of her generation, and whom I have admired for a long time,” said Steve McQueen, who won an Oscar in 2014 for his epic film about slaves. 12 years a slave. “The skill and care with which Carys handled the script was astonishing. Completing this emotional journey was no easy feat.
McQueen still supports his choice of Van Houten. “I am glad this issue has been resolved and I hope the focus can now return to the film.”
Hermeling also still supports the decision to have a Dutch voice-over narrated by Van Houten, who played, among other things, a Jewish resistance woman in Paul Verhoeven’s film. Black book And the wife of a German officer in American production Valkyrie. She also read the entire Diary of Anne Frank for a special audiobook and provided the Dutch voiceover for the short documentary Auschwitzproduced by Steven Spielberg for the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
“Carice is a special actress and a well-known name who can bring this important film to the attention of a large audience. This is what we want to do: attract as many visitors as possible to this movie. Steve McQueen and Carys Van Houten are very big stars and they can help us achieve this.”
Harm
Occupied city Based on Atlas of an Occupied City: Amsterdam 1940-1945 Written by Bianca Stegter, McQueen’s wife, puts his experience to the test Dutch premiere On Sunday, November 12 at the Pathé Tuschinski during the IDFA Amsterdam Documentary Film Festival.
A number of Jewish organizations considered declining the invitation to the premiere after Van Houten and others felt they had to speak out about Israel/Hamas. He mentioned this in a written response Central Jewish Consultation (CJO) The use of the term genocide is “abhorrent, inappropriate and incorrect.” “The authors and signatories of this letter should be deeply ashamed.”
CJO President Chanan Hertzberger: “We asked Carice and Flor Onrust if they supported this open letter. They responded that they were deeply sorry that part of the Jewish community was hurt by their signature on the letter and that they would remove their names. We also spoke with Steve McQueen and Bianca Stegter. They then informed us “They don’t support Karis’s actions either. We’re glad we can go to the premiere, because this is an important film that shows the consequences of blind hatred against other populations — whether they’re Jewish or not.”
If there are still people and groups who won’t see the film because of Van Houten, September Film’s Pim Hermeling will find that a “shame.” “But I’m certainly under no illusions that 17 million people will attend Occupied city Come. Of course I would, because it deals with topics that concern us all. Steve McQueen combines past and present in a very compelling way. As far as I’m concerned, this is poignant and hopeful for the future that lies ahead.
