With Independence Day approaching, people in cities across the country are gearing up for commemorations of Indonesia's 64th anniversary of independence, that will fall on Aug. 17.
Cities are transformed with red and white livery (the colors of the national flag), and swing into birthday mode with the words Dirgahayu RI (Long live the Republic of Indonesia) visible everywhere.
On the day, games and contests from krupuk (cracker) eating contests to bicycle decorating and panjat pinang (climbing an upright Areca palm trunk to claim prizes) are highlights.
From year to year, the festivities have not changed or faded, but when it comes to Indonesia's independence-themed movies, it is a different story. Just like Indonesia's martial arts movies, local war films had disappeared from cinemas for more than 15 years.
Janur Kuning (Young Yellow Coconut Leaves), Enam Jam di Yogya (Six Hours in Yogya), Serangan Fajar (The Dawn Attack) and Cut Nyak Dien are just few of many war movies screened in cinemas years ago, portraying the spirit, struggles and courage of Indonesians in fighting the Dutch and Japanese colonialists to gain independence and freedom.
After keeping dormant for almost two decades, Indonesian war-themed movies are about to make a return with the release of Merah Putih.
Set against a historically authentic backdrop of Indonesia's struggle for independence in 1947, during the Van Mook offensive into the heart of republican territory in Central Java, Merah Putih is a story about young Indonesian cadets who bond together despite their differences in religion, ethnicity, class and culture, to become guerrilla fighters for Indonesia's independence.
The film was inspired by the real-life experiences of the brave cadets massacred in Lengkong, and all the men and women who fought for a free and united Indonesia between 1945 and 1948.
The movie depicts the diversity of Indonesians through its unique and different characters.
There is Amir, a quiet and devout Muslim, (played by prominent actor Lukman Sardi) who gives up his job as a teacher and even leaves his beloved wife to become a cadet, while hot-headed Tomas (Donny Alamsyah) comes all the way from Sulawesi to be a soldier in a bid to get revenge against the Dutch soldiers who slaughtered his family.
There is also a cocky and elitist playboy Marius (Darius Sinathrya) and his best friend Soerono, who is a priyayi (Javanese aristocrat), as well as the Hindu street youth Dayan (T. Rifnu Wikana).
The movie starts with the tough lives of the aforementioned characters in a military school, showing friendship and even competition among them.
But the lives of the young cadets changes when Dutch soldiers suddenly attack their camp, tearing them apart. With limited weaponry and forces, they decided to unite to fight against the Dutch and defend their freedom.
Combining action, drama, humor, romance, human tragedy and strong personal stories, the movie is aimed at inspiring the new generation with the spirit of the generations before them who fought and sacrificed themselves for the freedoms Indonesia enjoys today.
Merah Putih, directed by Yadi Sugandi (director of photography for Laskar Pelangi and the Photograph), is the first film in a planned "Merdeka (freedom) Trilogy".
Thanks to Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the owner of PT Media Desa Indonesia, and Rob Allyn, an American producer and co-owner of Margate House, Ltd. film production company, who have brought the story to the silver screen.
The idea of the film first emerged when Allyn asked his close friend Hashim about two old portraits of youths in uniform on his wall.
Hashim told Allyn they were pictures of his two uncles, First Lt. R.M. Subianto Djojohadikusumo and Cadet R.M. Sujono Djojohadikusumo, who had died in the battle of Lengkong in 1946.
His uncles were the brothers of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, one of the founding fathers of Indonesia and the economic guru who helped win recognition of Indonesia's independence by the United Nations.
"I thought it would make a great Hollywood movie!" said Allyn.
Hashim and Allyn agreed that the story of brave young Indonesians willing to sacrifice their lives for the independence of Indonesia needed to be retold to the younger generation of Indonesia - and to the world outside, where few people know much about Indonesia's long and bloody struggle for independence.
Allyn brought technical experts from Hollywood films to work hand in hand with the Indonesian filmmakers, including Sastha Sunu as editor and Thoersi Argeswara as music director.
Shot in 35-millimeter film, Merah Putih gathered a topflight team of special effects and technical experts with experience in Hollywood films, including the British special effects guru Adam Howarth (Saving Private Ryan, Blackhawk Down), stunt supervisor Rocky McDonald (Mission Impossible II, The Quiet American), make-up and visual effects artist Rob Trenton (The Dark Knight), and weaponry expert consultant John Bowring (The Thin Red Line, X-Men Origins: Wolverine).
The crew shot for about four months in very difficult conditions during the rainy season in Semarang, Yogyakarta, Depok and other places around Indonesia.
A fight scene took about four or five days to shoot. A scene about the cadets attacking a Dutch convoy on a bridge, for instance, took six days and hundreds of takes because it involved gunfights and several blasts.
Before the film shoot began, the cast joined a military boot camp for 10 days where they were trained as if they were true military cadets.
The daily training consisted of marching, grueling physical training, training in the use of various weapons, and reading the Pancasila, the national ideology.
"Every morning we were woken up at 4 a.m. We had to be on the training site on time and studied Indonesian history on a daily basis," Darius said.
"This movie is a reminder for all of us of why we become Indonesia at the beginning. I hope this movie can encourage the young generation to love this country and to make our Indonesia better," Donny said.
Despite a series of fighting and explosions scenes, you won't find a spectacular amount of action in this film, especially if you are a war movie lover.
Allyn said that this first movie was more of an introduction of the characters and transitions of how they became mature. He promised that there would be more action scenes in the second and third movies.
The movie, set to be released on August 13, is a good start to revive our nationalist spirits.
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