They were merely students when the government sent them out to pursue education abroad. An experience expected to bear good results instead left them estranged, cast out, and unrecognized by their beloved country. How are they now? The Exiles (Lola Amaria, 2022) allows us to see their story in all its pain.
The first minute of The Exiles (2022) begins with the line,
“Some of our graves are marked, some are not. Many are unknown, lost to the rain. This is the face of Indonesia.”
It is a line from a poem written by Chalik Hamid, one of the ten exiles whose stories are featured in this documentary. In 2 hours, The Exiles (2022) brings a deep understanding of how poignant the longingness of home is. For a sense of security, they were forced to become citizens of the country they lived in. The exiles that were initially sent out to bring advancement to the country ended up dead without reconciliation from their nation.
In all its tenderness, The Exiles (2022) unveiled the hard-hitting truth that was not written in any records. The Exiles (2022) gives us a chance to revisit history, digging deeper into the events that shaped many lives. We are reminded that as long as the dark past haunts us, the spirit to receive justice, certainty, and truth must not waiver. Made for about 8 years, The Exiles (2022) presents fragments that were once lost and muffled. Hopefully, its existence may open the eyes of many people so as to no longer be trapped in the shadows of misguided history.
The Exiles (2022) is selected in Short Competition Festival Film Dokumenter 2023. (Tirza Kanya) (Vanis/Catharina Maida M)
Film Details
The Exiles (Eksil)
Lola Amaria | 122 Minutes | 2022 | DKI Jakarta | Color | 17+
Jadwal Tayang
12.05 | Gedung ex Bioskop Permata | 19.00 WIB
