The lesbian movement in the Netherlands was a driving force within Dutch feminism and came into full force in the 1970’s. It went beyond participating in awareness groups, demonstrations, and squats. They were at the forefront of activist movements such as Purple September and Lesbian Nation and responsible for opening women’s cafes, bookstores, magazines, archives, print shops, a film collective and much more. The City Was Ours also offers a unique first-person portrayal of the occupation of the Portuguese Embassy in The Hague, in a gesture of solidarity and international awareness towards the “Three Marias” case, the infamous trial of Portuguese authors Maria Teresa Horta, Maria Isabel Barreno, and Maria Velho da Costa, because of their book “Novas Cartas Portuguesas”, forbidden by the dictatorial regime.    

The documentary is followed by a talk with Ana Luísa Amaral, poet, retired professor, and a pioneer in feminist studies and queer studies at FLUP.