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‘Banda’ team issues statement following protest from Bandanese
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One of the film posters of 'Banda: The Dark Forgotten Trail'. (facebook.com/lifelikepictures/File)
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ollowing reports that protesters have called for the postponement of the premiere of Banda: The Dark Forgotten Trail feature documentary, slated for Aug. 3, as it is deemed to contain historical misconceptions, the film's team issued an official statement on Tuesday.
“From the beginning, the documentary’s writer as well as the team have known of and acknowledged the existence of Banda Eli and Elat locals as a group of people who migrated when there was colonization in Banda, both before and after 1621,” said the statement, adding that they had tracked the Bandanese to Kampung Bandan in North Jakarta. It also cited Timo Kaartinen’s paper “Song of Travel, Stories of Place” that specifically researched the people of Banda Eli and Elat.
It also stated that the documentary was not focusing on searching for the natives, but instead talking about the Banda Islands as one of the centers of spices and nutmeg. Also, explanations have been given in the film that there are two groups of people in Banda: those prior to 1621 and after 1621.
Read also: ‘Banda’ delivers more than just the islands’ history
“After watching the film, as an expert in history, I must say that there’s no mistake regarding the history of Banda from the period before colonialism until the present time,” said Usman Thalib, a historian from Banda Neira, one of the islands in Banda, who was involved in the documentary.
“This film is actually an effective medium, not only in building character and nationalism among children in this nation, but also a way to build tourism in Maluku. The threat of boycotting Banda: The Dark Forgotten Trail is the same as a threat to building character and nationalism among children in this region and the development of tourism in Maluku," he added.
Previously on July 31, hundreds of Bandanese reportedly rallied in the area of the Gong Perdamaian peace monument in Ambon. They demanded the Maluku Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) and the Film Censorship Institute (LSF) postpone the screening of the documentary.
The protesters claimed that the film’s director, Jay Subyakto, had made an incorrect statement on online media, saying that the natives of Banda were extinct following the genocide in 1621, while in fact they still exist, as some of them had escaped to Banda Eli, Banda Elat and other islands at that time, reported tempo.co. Jay was urged to clarify his statement and officially apologize to all people of Wandan descent, including those hailing from Banda Eli and Elat villages, and of Mboyratan lineage, the natives of Banda.
Following the protest, the movie crew has made a clarification on social media and held an event where they met some of the representatives of the Bandanese in Jakarta. The online media that published Jay’s statement has also revised its article.
According to the latest report, Jay stated that there would be no change in the premiere date of the documentary. (kes)
