When I think of Amsterdam, I think of the great (and mostly wonderful) memories for me. The Netherlands will always be a country near and dear to my heart because of the friendships made during my time on a Vocational Exchange but also in recent times, meeting a friend there in person at a time I felt I was the most creative I’ve ever been in my life when we were creating stories for a Snapchat news story where I played a Luddite Foreign Correspondent, Shazza Breaknews.
And so, today, I decided to watch this movie with a superb cast, Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Denzel Washington, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift and many more based on a true story in America where a group of business men tried to overthrow the Roosevelt government and install fascism. Thankfully, it was thwarted by a popular general at the time (played by De Niro). You can read about the coup here.
What I loved about this movie were the various themes that resonated strongly with me. I couldn’t help but align them to what I was reading in War and Peace – the themes of kindness, compassion and equality over all. The insanity of war. While the movie Amsterdam referred to the contingents of black Americans who were segregated from the whites during World War 1, there was simply too much not to like in this film.
Weird because it was considered a box office flop. However to me, it was brilliant. It was a movie for the time. A movie whose themes are long lasting.
The movie challenges us to stand up to what we believe and to fight where we see inequality, injustice. Or, to question the intention of people or groups that dont stand for the greater good of everyone but only for the interests of the few. It’s a movie about seeing art and creativity in the most awful situations like how the nurse (played by Margot Robbie) would make shrapnel artworks like tea sets.
Ultimately it’s about how people find their truth. Exactly the message of Tolstoy’s War and Peace.
The weird tea set made of the metal taken out of American soldiers who served in World War 1. Art is everywhere.
The great speech given by the General who the fascist group Committee of the Five wanted as a spokesperson to emulate Mussolini. However the General saw through that.
Watch Amsterdam. It’s brilliant. It’s quirky. It’s uplifting. It’s wonderful. Oh, and there’s lots of French in it too.
Quotes from: https://www.moviequotesandmore.com/amsterdam-movie-quotes/
(I’m NOT going to comment on the director here who creates a movie about intolerance and yet, is known for his cruel and unreasonable on set behaviours with actors. Go figure).
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