McQueen鈥檚 marathon documentary tells devastating story of Nazi occupied Amsterdam
British filmmaker Steve McQueen returned to the Cannes Film Festival this year to screen his new, four-and-a-half hour documentary, Occupied City. Inspired by a book written by his wife, director Bianca Stigter, the film is a door-to-door exploration of the horrors the Nazis wrought on Amsterdam, as well as a more contemporary portrait of the Dutch City during the pandemic.
Tom Brook shares the strong emotional response he had to the documentary, given that his own German Jewish grandfather from Breslau was forced into retirement when the Nazis came to power. Having lost his job, home and status he spent time in the Netherlands before fortunately finding safe haven with his family in Britain. Tom interviews Steve McQueen and Bianca Stitger about the new film.
