Natasja Gibbs interviews Machiel Amorison and Florence Rapati: “She’s been dead for over a century, but Mata Hari is still famous all over the world. Who was the woman behind the myth? This researches the American-Dutch documentary ‘Mata Hari, The Naked Spy’, which can now be viewed online. We discuss it with director Machiel Amorison and dancer Florence Rapati.” Watch Now
The American-Dutch documentary / feature film ‘Mata Hari, The Naked Spy’, made by the Haarlem filmmaker Machiel Amorison and the American filmmaker Susan Wolf, premiered online. The intention was that the film would be shown in various Dutch cinemas around this time, but the corona pandemic prevented that. Via the internet people can now watch the life story of the Dutch dancer and prostitute, who was shot in France in 1917 because the French suspected her of espionage during the First World War.
Special personality
The idea for the film came from Amorison. For years he had been fascinated by the person Mata Hari, who was born in Leeuwarden in 1876 as Margaretha Zelle. Amorison’s great-great-grandmother was in Mata Hari’s class, he tells Haarlem105. “The stories had circulated in the family for years. As a child, Mata Hari was shown to be notable for her different clothing and extraordinarily charismatic behavior. So she was a special personality from the start. ”
“Mata Hari was the most famous dancer in Europe for seven years”
Read more: https://haarlem105.nl/film-over-mata-hari-van-haarlemse-filmmaker-in-premiere/
HAARLEM The American-Dutch documentary ‘Mata Hari, The Naked Spy’, which was to be screened in Dutch cinemas this year, will now have its Dutch premiere online because of Corona. The film by the Haarlem filmmaker Machiel Amorison and the American filmmaker Susan Wolf, who together were responsible for the direction and production, can be downloaded and streamed from November via the website www.mataharithenakedspy.com .
NEW LOOK AT LIFE The idea for the film comes from the Haarlem filmmaker Machiel Amorison. For years he has been mesmerized by the figure of Margaretha Zelle (Mata Hari), who was told at birthdays that she had been in the class of his great-grandmother in Leeuwarden. The film was made in 2017, one hundred years after Mata Hari’s death, when personal letters from the beginning of the last century and war documents from 1917 became available that gave a new perspective on her life. Amorison: “When she wrote those letters around 1903 and 1904, she was in the middle of a divorce and was in danger of losing her daughter Non, after her son Norman had died a few years earlier. The letters tell the story of a troubled mother, even before she became known as a dancer and spy. ” Read More
Two Sold out Screenings launched the International Premiere of Mata Hari The Naked Spy at the Filmhuis Den Hague on September 30th, 2018. The Filmhuis added two more screenings for the following weekend and both had full houses. The film was held over for four more screenings! It was the first chance the Dutch team had to see the film on the big screen. The film received an enthusiastic response from all involved.
Even those who don’t know much about her, know Mata Hari was executed for being a spy.
That’s about all Susan Wolf knew, too, when Machiel Amorison — a Dutch filmmaker Wolf had worked with decades prior — suggested that they make a film together about her for the 100th anniversary of her execution. His great-grandmother had gone to school with Mata Hari, and so he grew up with stories about her.
In the Netherlands the name Mata Hari is known, but a bit forgotten.
~photo by Walther Vlaanderen
The Hague dancer Florence Rapati learned about Mata Hari, a simple girl from Friesland, during dance history classes at the conservatory. ,, I always thought it was an interesting story. Mata Hari was a special, strong woman who determined her own life.”
Rapati did not have to think for long when she was asked to collaborate on the dramatized documentary about the life of the dancer, courtesan and spy, Mata Hari. Seven years ago she danced in a video clip by filmmaker Machiel Amorison and he approached her again, for Mata Hari, the naked spy. “There is an American producer involved and it is really a big production. We have worked a total of 3 years. The film was mainly recorded in the Netherlands because Mata Hari’s life took place here. For example, we were allowed to film in hotel Des Indes and in the Edams Museum, for the prison scene. Very special.” Read More
We are excited to announce that JAVA FILMS is our international distributor and will be distributing our film worldwide. Founded in 2005, Java Films rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s leading independent documentary distributors, providing production support and distribution to both finished films and projects in development. With offices in Paris and London, their films include international Emmy winners which have been nominated for prestigious prizes like the Goyas and films that have premiered at important festivals like Sundance, Tribeca or HotDocs.
Read more: JAVA FILMs
Stay informed about screenings and news.
