Pakhuis Kino x Movies that Matter: Bagasi – what we carry
On Thursday, 11 June, in collaboration with Pakhuis de Zwijger, we are screening Bagasi – What We Carry as part of Pakhuis Kino. Featuring live music by Damani Leidsman and Rory Ronde, followed by a post-screening discussion with director Emma Lesuis.
Bagasi – What We Carry
When filmmaker Emma Lesuis receives a suitcase from her father-in-law containing the archive of his grandfather, Maarten de Niet, a confronting family history begins to unfold. The suitcase contains photographs, political documents, newspaper clippings, and a doll with two faces: white on one side and Black on the other.
Between 1926 and 1953, De Niet served as Attorney General and acting Governor of Suriname. He was involved in the arrest of resistance fighter Anton de Kom and the institutionalisation of trade union leader Louis Doedel in a psychiatric hospital. During that same period, Emma’s Surinamese grandparents lived under his rule. Their worlds existed in close proximity, yet were divided by power and race.
At a time when conversations about colonial legacies are becoming increasingly urgent, Emma feels compelled to bring all of De Niet’s photographs, documents, and letters to light. She embarks on this journey while expecting a child of her own. Opening the suitcase not only reveals a forgotten chapter in colonial history, but also leads Emma and her mother into their own long-silenced family history. What will her child carry forward?
Pakhuis Kino
Thursday night is movie night at Pakhuis Kino. Together we watch a film, enjoy a delicious snack provided by Vrouw met de Baard, and continue the conversation afterwards about the film’s themes or its filmmaking. Film, discussion, and snacks: everything you need for a great Thursday evening!