Wednesday, October 9, 2024

12 Years a Documentary: Steve McQueen’s Non Fiction Film About Amsterdam During Nazi Occupation is Over 4 Hours Long

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The schedule for Cannes 2023 is here, and it’s very exciting.

The Festival has bricked in Saturday night, May 20th, with Martin Scorsese’s three hour “Killers of the Flower Moon,” followed by Todd Haynes’s “May December.” It’s basically a six hour evening.

There’s an hour in between for a croque monsieur and a splash of wine.

On the 22nd, HBO is screening Sam Levinson’s “The Idol,” starring The Weeknd, at 10:30pm. It’s late, but at least it’s actually on the weekend.

And there’s Steve McQueen’s “Occupied City.” This may be known as 12 Years a Documentary. It’s over four hours long. “Occupied City” won’t be uninteresting. It’s about the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam during World World II– you know, what was going on outside while Anne Frank, her family, and friends were inside. It sounds more like a four hour series, a la McQueen’s “Small Axe,” which really comprised five films including the magnificent “Mangrove.”

It’s unclear if there’s an intermission, or snack and bathroom time. Pillows are optional.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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