Power in our hands

Synopsis:
Behind the closed doors of the Tetterode building in Amsterdam, one of the biggest artist communities of the city has been living a quiet life for nearly 45 years. The residents squatted the building in the 1980s and repurposed it following the principles of self-management and guerrilla architecture. For decades, they preserved a liberated zone where they could paint, sculpt, write, and be free. Now in the autumn of their lives, the community stands at a crossroads: The commercial real estate pressure is greater than ever and a younger generation must take over. Will there still be room for this unique community in the future of Amsterdam?

Original Title:
De Kracht van Onze Handen

Length: 50’

Year: 2024

Format: 4K DCP, DOLBY SURROUND 5.1

Director:
Onur Can Tepe

Co-Director:
Jelle Baars

Producers: Jana Chocholackova, Magda Augustein


Production company: Stichting Sonodocs and Stichting Smoke & Mirrors

Featuring: Jeroen Werner, Ineke Bellemakers, Una Jongenelis, Serge Verheugen

Original Music: Tomek Gunzel

Camera: Batuhan Keskiner, Julian den Ouden, Kevin Thompson

Sound recording: Jelle Baars, Dimitar Galilev, Axel Ottar

Sound design and mix: Sam Huisman

Funding: Amsterdam Fonds voor de kunst, Stimuleringsfonds Creative Industries NL, EFL stichting, het Cultuurfonds, Vevam and hundreds of crowdfunders.










Artist Statement
About four years ago, I stepped through the closed doors of a building in Amsterdam and found myself in the Tetterode community. Nearly 45 years ago, its squatters built an alternative world shaped by their ideals. There’s a striking contrast between the serene atmosphere of their studios and the bustling, market-driven environment just outside. The spirit of the '80s still lingers there, which is both captivating and concerning, as it highlights the fragility of their existence.

In this film, I aimed to take viewers on a 50-minute tour of the Tetterode community, exploring its spaces and introducing its inhabitants. I wanted to demonstrate to my generation that the right to space didn't always have to come from financial means, there used to be alternative ways to defend your rights. I hoped to reveal to the people of Amsterdam that their city's recent history is richer and more complex than they might realize. And finally, I wanted to show the Tetterodians that, even in their later years, they shine beautifully through my lens.