“The Betang is a symbol. If the Betang collapses and vanishes, then the values we’ve preserved will be lost as well,” a mother tells her child. A traditional Dayak longhouse in Kalimantan, the Betang is home to thirty-three families. But not everyone loves the Betang.
Summoned home to Sumatra by his aging father, an eldest son must face the reality of his family’s land being threatened and his inability to help. This is a timeless tale of unstoppable industry and equally enduring folklore.
Read MoreIn a village renowned for the selflessness of its residents, things aren’t quite what they seem. This is a textured tale about the transcendental power of words, and the importance of peering beneath the surface.
Read MoreA woman and her friend reminisce about someone dear who is no longer with them. Juxtaposing the beauty of nature with the horrors of forced development, this is a poignant glimpse into the challenging lives of those who live off the land.
Read MoreA son recounts the bloody events that led to the disappearance of his father during modern Indonesia’s darkest period. This is a chilling insight into the legacy of trauma and grief suffered by the victims’ families.
Read MoreLate at night, at a busy intersection in Medan, an unlikely friendship is formed between two people who feel they’ve been left behind by their country.
Read More“You cannot dance properly if you only focus on the motions. Be one with nature. Greet God and our ancestors. Only then you will come out as one with the Jaranan.” Step into the sonorous world of a Jaranan dance troupe in Madura, during modern Indonesia’s bloodiest era.
Read MoreA couple work relentlessly on a vast palm oil plantation until tragedy strikes and they are forced to leave, only to find their new home is just as unwelcoming. This is a rare insight into the human face of Indonesia’s most controversial industry.
Read MoreDespite her soundproof alibi and the existence of other possible suspects, a domestic worker is incarcerated for life. This is a gripping interrogation of society’s unceasing tendency to doubt a woman’s truth.
Read MoreA man thought to be murdered manages to escape. Assassinated for his special ability to speak with spirits, the man must decide to assist the course of justice or ensure the safety of his family.
Read MoreWhile participating in a workshop to discuss the various kinds of military oppression that have happened in Papua, for the very first time a woman shares the story of her village being destroyed.
Read MoreA daughter recounts vignettes from her mother’s transformation into a jugun ianfu, a comfort woman for the Japanese during their occupation of the Dutch East Indies in World War II.
Read MoreA recently married young woman learns the truth about how her husband and his family values her.
Read MorePlagued by nightmares about hell and disgusted by his coworkers’ bigotry, a man rejects the faith of his upbringing. But an encounter with a childhood friend causes him to revise his assumptions about God.
Read MoreA fantastical story about a father who forces her daughter to train as a doctor, whereas her soul longs to become a pianist.
Read MoreA new mother is feeling under pressure when her demanding, superstitious mother comes to visit. But then she finds her mother often crying by herself. What could be the problem?
Read MoreI blocked the men who were running , attempting to save my daughter from drowning. I swore by Allah, I would never let strange men touch her body, her honor, which I would protect with all my might.
Read MoreFor over a decade there has been no baby boys born on the Island—no one to be the next imam of the sect. In order to stop the increasing number of girls, the current imam orders his followers to kill every female newborn. A woman with a painful past is said to keep all the seeds for baby boys in her womb.
Read More“I’m worried your father’s animal ways will come alive in you, be passed down to you.”
“I’m not an animal, Mom.”
“But where did you get strength like that?”
Read MoreAku tak pernah minta dilahirkan ke dunia sebagai bayi laki-laki dengan dua kaki, satu lengan, dan satu tentakel yang menggantikan sekujur lengan kanan. Namun, begitulah kenyataannya.
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