Living free to love anyone is a human right of every human being. Unfortunately, the need that should be a human right turns out to be a privilege. Regarding sexual orientation, it is still a problem in several organizations and community groups in Indonesia. This creates a mindset to freely judge the right or wrong for a private matter. Teguh (2021) invites us to see a resistance to rigid norms in an institution where they uphold a certain image and impression.
Teguh (2021) narrates how the struggle of an ex-police who is dishonorably discharged because of his sexual orientation. His partner thinks that Teguh has just perceived injustice and they decide to go into a court of law to fight for justice. However, the struggle feels like nothing and useless due to hierarchical factors that are still upheld by various groups.
The filmmakers invite us to follow the lives of these two lovebirds which is seen through the perspective of humanity. There is a scene where Teguh is feeding lovebirds in the cage followed by a picture of the bird biting and is sitting on the cage ceiling. This series of images seems to represent how their love and their passion cannot be openly expressed without being oppressed by an institution that always prioritizes making a good impression.
Teguh, directed by Riani Singgih (2021), can be watched in the Short Documentary Competition program at Festival Film Dokumenter 2022.
Written by Haputeno
Edited by Vanis
Film Details:
Teguh
Riani Singgih | 15 min | Indonesia | Color | 2021 | 15+
Kompetisi Dokumenter Pendek
Showtime:
15 November 2022 | Auditorium IFI-LIP | 15.00
16 November 2022 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 19.00
