Amsterdam Global Village
A film by Johan van der Keuken
Regie: Johan van der Keuken
Camera: Johan van der Keuken
Geluid: Noshka van der Lely
Productie: Claudia Weinbeck
Montage: Barabara Hin, Johan van der Keuken
Producent: Pieter van Huystee Film & TV
Omroep: NPS, WDR
Lengte: 228 minuten
Format: 35 mm, kleur
Première: Januari 1996
In this four-hour epic, Holland's most prolific and respected documentary
filmmaker portrays his home town of Amsterdam and the people who live
there. On this labyrinthine journey Johan van der Keuken's camera serenely
glides along the city's canals, down its streets and across its squares.
Johan van der Keuken droegde film 'Amsterdam Global Village' op aan
de dichter Bert Schierbeek, aanwie hij tevens het motto voor zijn film
ontleende: 'Ik dacht altijd dathet leven 777 verhalen tegelijk was'.
On the way he encounters old and new Amsterdammers, a variety of characters
from all corners of the world, on "a voyage around the world in his
own home town". The hero of Amsterdam Global Village is Khalid, a young
Moroccan moped courier who takes the viewer along as he races round
town with his precious cargo of films and photographs.
But just as Amsterdam is a global Village, the film, too, is largely
global, as Johan van der Keuken follows several trails back to their
roots far from the city, He goes with the Chechen businessman Borz-Ali
back to war-stricken Grozny . He accompanies Roberto back to his native
village in the mountains of Bolivia, and follows a jewish woman and
her son as they visit the mansion where, after three years of fearful
separation, they were reunited at the end of the war . Amsterdam Global
Village is also a musical journey, from DJ 100% Isis and her House music
to a Ghanaian funeral party to Riccardo Chailly in the Concertgebouw.
Johan van der Keuken has woven a patchwork of very personal tales together
with major global issues of the 1990's to create a loving portrait of
the Amsterdam that has for centuries been a refuge for so many outsiders
and yet retains its village charm.
