30 mei, 1969 (gritu di un pueblo)

On 30 May 1969, a strike at a Shell refinery in Curaçao escalated into a mass uprising. The protests marked a historic turning point— parts of the capital Willemstad went up in flames and the Dutch government flew in marines. Filmmaker John Leerdam investigates what drove people into the streets: was it simply poor working conditions, or accumulated anger over persistent discrimination?

Drawing on archival material, talks filmed with experts, and lively street interviews, the documentary unravels how the unrest began. The film brings together firsthand accounts of people who experienced the events, from local residents to union leaders and marines. The residents recall the chaos and looting, while workers remember the huge pay gap between them and their Dutch colleagues.

At the same time, the film explores the deeper roots of the uprising: a colonial education system that damaged the self-image of Curaçao’s people. Leerdam thus creates a powerful historical portrait of a community and its struggle to break free of colonial structures.

A new digital restoration from the Eye Filmmuseum, based on the original 16mm masters.