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Indonesia on screen: Five documentaries capture the archipelago's glory
As the pandemic forces us to stay indoors, we pick the best local documentaries to help you feel like you’re traveling around Indonesia to learn more about our rich cultural heritage.
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Still from 'Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo' with actor Rio Dewanto (right) (Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo/Courtesy of 'Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo')
H
ome to a wide range of natural glory, from Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia is abundant in cultural gems not to be overlooked. While distance, cost and the current pandemic may constraint us from bearing witness to the uniqueness Indonesia has to offer, some documentaries let us escape the confines of our homes for scenarios that elicit a sense of pride and belonging.
Here are five rural documentaries made by local creators that serve as vehicles to higher appreciation of our cultural richness:
Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo (2020)
Dir. Rahung Nasution / 27 minutes
Available on Bioskop Online (bioskoponline.com)
The film follows actor Rio Dewanto on his journey to the land of Gayo coffee, delving deep into what lies behind each sip of coffee. As the world's largest arabica-coffee-producing region, Gayo is a place that is close to the heart of coffee aficionados including Rahung Nasution, the documentary’s director.
"As someone who comes from (the) Mandailing (regency in North Sumatera), renowned as the world's best arabica producing region, coffee is a commodity that I hold dear not only for the taste but also for its history and impact," Rahung told The Jakarta Post.
