THE POLITICS OF BELONGING: OEMA FOE SRANAN + STRIJD OP 16MM

Two generations of filmmakers. One shared struggle to reclaim history, representation and the right to be heard.

How do we preserve the stories of those who fought for recognition, equality and independence? And what can a film made almost fifty years ago tell us about the world we live in today?

As part of Black Soil Film Festival’s The Politics of Belonging programme, this special double screening brings together two documentaries that connect Surinamese history, women’s voices and the enduring legacy of colonialism in the Netherlands.

OEMA FOE SRANAN (1978)

Directed by At van Praag, Oema foe Sranan (Women of Suriname) is a powerful portrait of four women whose personal experiences reveal the broader history of Dutch colonialism, racism and social inequality.

Through their stories, the film explores the realities of colonial oppression, the struggle for independence and the challenges faced by Surinamese communities both in Suriname and the Netherlands.

Filmed during a period of profound political and social transformation, Oema foe Sranan captures the spirit of the 1970s, when movements for liberation, women’s rights and self-determination were reshaping societies around the world.

Set against the backdrop of Suriname’s independence in 1975, known as Srefidensi, the documentary offers an intimate perspective on a defining chapter in Dutch-Surinamese history.

More than a historical document, the film remains a powerful reminder of the importance of telling history through the voices of those who lived it.

STRIJD OP 16MM (2022)

Nearly five decades later, a new generation of filmmakers returns to the story behind this remarkable documentary.

Directed by Ananta Khemradj, Kiki Ho and Luna Hupperetz, Strijd op 16mm (Struggle on 16mm) explores the making, screening history and restoration of At van Praag’s activist film.

Through conversations with people directly involved, the documentary revisits the political climate of the 1970s and the role cinema played in movements for social change.

It reveals how Oema foe Sranan reached audiences beyond traditional cinemas, becoming part of a wider culture of grassroots activism, community engagement and political awareness.

By tracing the film’s journey from its original production to its restoration, Strijd op 16mm raises important questions about cultural heritage, the preservation of activist cinema and the responsibility to keep overlooked histories accessible to future generations.

THE POLITICS OF BELONGING

Presented together, these two films create a dialogue across generations.

Where Oema foe Sranan gives voice to women confronting the realities of colonialism and inequality, Strijd op 16mm examines the importance of preserving those voices and the political conditions in which they were first heard.

Together, they invite us to reflect on who gets to tell history, whose experiences become part of our collective memory and why these stories remain essential today.

Because preserving the past is also an act of shaping the future.