Occupied City is Steve McQueen’s four-hour 2023 documentary tracing Amsterdam’s Nazi occupation, inspired by Bianca Stigter’s book Atlas of an Occupied City. Rather than archival footage, McQueen pairs present-day Amsterdam street scenes with narration describing what happened at each location during World War II.
Quick Facts
| Title | Occupied City |
| Director | Steve McQueen |
| Composer | Oliver Coates |
| Based on | Atlas of an Occupied City by Bianca Stigter |
| Genre | Documentary, History, War |
Score & Composer
British cellist and composer Oliver Coates scored the film after McQueen was struck by a sound he heard from Coates in, of all places, a department store. Coates describes his music as “wheezing” and “melancholic,” built from backwards pulses that repeat like mournful sighs. McQueen has called Coates’ contribution “transcendent,” saying it adds “another layer into the narrative, another echo in the audio sense” beneath the film’s present-tense imagery of a city carrying its past.
Where to Stream
Occupied City is available on select streaming and VOD platforms; check the A2Z Soundtrack streaming hub for current availability. Oliver Coates’ score can be searched on Apple Music and Spotify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed Occupied City?
Cellist and composer Oliver Coates scored the film.
What is Occupied City based on?
It’s based on Bianca Stigter’s book Atlas of an Occupied City (Amsterdam 1940-1945).
How long is Occupied City?
The documentary runs approximately four hours.
Who directed Occupied City?
Steve McQueen, the Oscar-winning director of 12 Years a Slave, directed the film.
Related reading: Browse more movie soundtrack guides or the A2Z Soundtrack streaming hub.