“Satudarah wanted to show the other side of their club: the brotherhood between members and their Moluccan roots. I found these elements interesting, It’s part of their identity.”
The 2015 ‘Gouden Kalf’ nominated Dutch Documentary ‘Satudarah’ – One Blood’ (TRAILER), deals with an one-percenter motorcycle club called Satudarah MC. International Emmy Award winners and filmmakers Joost van der Valk (HBO/Channel4 ‘Saving Africa’s Witch Children’) and Mags Gavan where given exclusive access to ‘Satudarah,’ and observe ‘from within’ this unique subculture.
Van der Valk and Gavan did this before with the jaw-dropping 2009 film “Crips, Strapped ‘n strong” (TRAILER) where we meet the Dutch branch of the Crips gang. “Wilders, the movie” (TRAILER) about Dutch politician and the founder and leader of the Party for Freedom. And the 2006 vivid portrait of John Waldschmit (1960-2014) aka “Haagse Sjonnie”.
With the 2015 Teledoc released ‘Satudarah’ – One Blood’ Van der Valk and Gavan paint some unique fascinating standards of the club. With the more then 2-years of unprecedented access, the filmmakers are able to show us a dramatic insight into the underworld of this motorcycle club. We follow the new generation of leaders – Angelo , Olla, Mima and Bota – that convert the relatively unknown Dutch club into an international conglomerate in just a few years. This development doesn’t go without problems. The Film shows the expansion in Germany, which accompanies itself with war, betrayal and the banning of the club in Germany.
The motorcycle club, originating from the Ambonese (South Moluccans) was founded in Moordrecht in the Netherlands in 1990. The Ambonese are from the Ambon Island in Maluku, an island group east of Sulawesi and north of Timor in Indonesia. Satudarah MC differs from most other motorcycle clubs because it welcomes all races into its club. The ethnic makeup of the club is primarily Ambonese (South Moluccans), Dutch and Surinamese (Country in South America).
- Satu darah in Indonesian and Malay language means “one blood”.
Satudarah MC currently has 76 chapters and is active in 18 countries.
- Satudarah MC is secret world full of rituals and codes with old-fashioned ideals like ‘virility’, ‘brotherhood’, ‘loyalty’, ‘courage’, and ‘spirituality’ are paramount.
- A Teledoc in the Netherlands is a feature length documentary with a contemporary Dutch subject, which is told in an exciting, accessible and cinematic way and is intended for a wide audience.
The Documentary aired on the 22nd of June 2015 in Netherlands, and reached more then 1 million viewers that night. For those who missed it watch the full doc here – (DUTCH ONLY!)
Chris Kijne spreekt Joost van der Valk en Mags Gavan over de documentaire ‘Satudarah – One Blood’.
Contact info@redrebelfilms.com for English copy of the film.
Photo credit: De Famlie Film &TV/RedRebelFilms.