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Weekly 5: Films offer an opportunity to explore the 1998 tragedy
JP/Wendra Ajistyatama1998 was a historic year for the nation and a tragic one for Jakarta
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JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
1998 was a historic year for the nation and a tragic one for Jakarta. The bloody May riots, just prior to the downfall of the Soeharto regime, claimed a significant number of lives and saw gross crimes committed across the city; sexual violence, kidnapping and the burning and looting of buildings.
Eighteen years may have elapsed, but the tragedy of May 1998 will not be forgotten. The following five films interpret and retell the story.
9808
9808: Released in 2008, the 10th year anniversary of Indonesian reform, the film is an anthology comprising of 10 separate short films made by Indonesia’s well known directors; Agung Priambodo, Ariani Darmawan, Edwin, Hafiz, Ifa Isfansyah, Lucky Kuswandi, Otty Widasari, Ucu Agustin, Steve Pillar Setiabudi and Wisnu Suryapratama.
Each of the 10 short films present a different story. Edwin’s film, “Trip to the Wound”, tells the story a woman who loves to ask people to tell the story behind their injuries on late-night bus trips. The woman could not show her wound.
Edwin is best known for the film Babi Buta Yang Ingin Terbang (The Blind Pig that Wants to Fly), awarded the International Federation of Film Critics Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival in 2009.
Ucu directed Yang Belum Usai (The Endless Path), the story of a mother who has spent 10 years fighting for justice after her son, Wawan, was shot dead in Semanggi during the May riot.
May
May is a fiction film directed by Viva Westi. Produced in 2008, the film tells the story of an inter-racial couple, Antares (Tama Carlos) and May (Jenny Chang) who were separated during the riot in 1998. While Antares, a documentary film maker, was filming the historical moment, May was kidnapped and raped. The film received 11 nominations at the Indonesian Film Festival in 2008, taking home awards for best sound engineering, best editing and best cinematography.
Student Movement in Indonesia
A documentary directed by Tino Saroengallo, Student Movement in Indonesia, is composed of footage captured by Tino and other broadcast journalists during the riots. The film was first launched in 2002. Tino captures the process of how a peaceful protest held by college students in Jakarta became violent after the military and police attempted to repress the event.
One gruesome scene, showing a soldier stepping on the head of a student, was ordered to be cut from the film prior to its release by those in charge of local censorship.
Di Balik 98
Di Balik 98 (Behind 98) by Lukman Sardi is the most recent film to retell the story of the 1998 tragedy. Launched in 2015, the film tells the story of an idealist college student named Diana (Cheldea Islan), an activist during the movement. The political riot was dramatized, shown through a domestic conflict involving Diana’s brother, a military officer, and her sister, a staffer at the State Palace.
The different roles of the family see them separated during the riot, leading to a confrontation at one point. The film was nominated in various categories at the 2015 Indonesia Film Festival, including the best cinematography, best visual effect and best actress.
Setelah 15 Tahun
In 2013, Tino released Setelah 15 Tahun (After 15 Years), a sequel of his 1998 documentary, presenting his view on what has happened to the spirit of reform.
Tino interviews many people, each of whom offer their views on how the reformation shaped the country and whether or not the country is on the right path after the tragedy.
