History and films

History and films

From Media Indonesia

I would like to thank all the people involved in making the film Fatahillah possible, especially producer Surjadi Soedirdja. The film is a denial of the prevailing image that Indonesian films lack quality.

But the three-billion rupiah film shows flaws in historical accuracy. As a history teacher, I have my doubts about the contents of the film.

Fatahillah or Faletehan was, according to textbooks published by Balai Pustaka, Tiga Serangkai and Erlangga, a war commander from Demak who was ordered to expel the Portuguese from Sunda Kelapa. After Faletehan had chased the Portuguese from Sunda Kelapa he renamed it Jayakarta. In his old age, Faletehan left matters of the kingdom to his son and moved to Gunung Jati to become a Great Scholar with the name of Sunan Gunung Jati. The film gives a different interpretation.

Fatahillah's task was to expel the Portuguese. At the time, the Portuguese had settled in Sunda Kelapa and had been working together with Sri Maha Wasesa, the Padjadjaran King, in trade and politics and had set up fortresses. Again, the film offers a different interpretation.

Colossal films made at a high cost such as Fatahillah are expected to become a catalyst for the ailing Indonesian film industry. But quality films, interspersed with love and humor, should not deviate from the story line.

ANTON SUPRIYANTO

Palembang, South Sumatra