Tula: The Revolt (2013) HD online

This is a story of human interest.The film may be weak in some aspects,but based on then real life of a person who fought for himself and his people to have freedom from their cruel oppressors, can only merit thought at how the concept of superiority made the slave owners immune to any sense of humanity.If it wasn't for the uprising in Haiti,no slave would have had the courage to challenge slavery.It came to end too late unfortunately for other islands like Curacao ,but it did end,thanks to people like Tula.Its a story to be watched or read.Are we to ignore history of slavery forever,and criticise those who try to tell these stories for the costumes that the slaves wore as too clean,and one commentator here seems to think,or listen to voices of those who sacrificed themselves for their god given rights ,and the good of others.

Being a slave was a clean and easy job in those days. At least that was the only conclusion I can draw after having sat through this screen disaster. Everyone was wearing clean clothes all the time (c'mon guys, dress up, you're on camera !); slaves could wander freely through the woods without being hindered and without getting dirty (or caught for that matter), and they had no trouble adjusting to the lifestyle of their masters (well okay, that was possible). The story had no real beginning or end and when the credits ran, you were just wondering what had been the purpose of it all. Danny Glover must have felt like a stranger amongst this Dutch gang; he certainly looks and sounds that way. What a waste of money and energy !! The only somewhat decent job was done by Jeroen Willems (sad he is not among us anymore); to determine the worst performance is more difficult: so many actors are vying for that slot ! Having to chose I would take Jeroen Krabbe. His Gouverneur was beyond any believability. It was Jeroen Leinders' (were they all chosen for their first name?) first movie. Unless he decides to start following a course, it should be his last.

This film takes place on the island of Curaqao in 1795. We know that the slave revolt is a failure from the opening scene. The movie regresses a couple of weeks to the events leading up to the sentencing. Inspired by the Haitians having a successful slave revolt, Tula believes the slaves on this island are free and coupled with harsh conditions he demands to speak to the governor. This leads to a general uprising.

The film centers on Tula and his inner circle and those that betray him. The film is sad yet at the same time spiritually uplifting. The violence is kept to a minimal, yet doesn't refrain from showing a few scenes. Appears to be suitable for a high school or perhaps even a junior high teaching film.

No f-bombs, sex, or nudity.

Nothing makes any sense in this film: There is no coherent story, episodes stand on their own without being integrated in the greater plot. Characters are just one-dimensional, caricatures really. Tula, the illiterate slave, all of a sudden becomes some kind of Enlightenment philosopher. His "black" girlfriend does not look at all like any kind of Curacaoan. Whites are seen as bigoted racists, even sadists. Historical accuracy is totally disregarded for fantasy and not that subtle political comment on the present day. The actors, probably due to the awful script, cannot make any difference. Glover and Krabbe cannot be too happy about this film.

All in all, this may be the worst film I have seen in years, despite my interest in the island. But on Curacao is was a great success: The government assembly even voted to hand out free tickets to school children so they could be (mis-)informed about their own history.