Veteran producer bemoans small documentary film mart
Veteran producer bemoans small documentary film mart
JAKARTA (JP): Documentary films, especially those about
Indonesia's independence struggle, are hard to sell to local TV
stations which seem to have strong preference for Indian and
Chinese films, veteran film producer Des Alwi said yesterday.
Alwi yesterday presented his latest production, a documentary
on the raid by Indonesian freedom fighters against the Dutch
military forces in Yogyakarta on March 1, 1949, before President
Soeharto, one of the survivors of the event. The incident proved
to be a turning point in the republic's independence struggle.
Alwi, who has produced many documentaries on the nation's
history between 1945 and 1950 and has gone to great lengths,
including scouring film archives abroad, said he had offered some
of his films to local TV stations, and all they had to do was pay
the cost of copying the film.
He could not find any takers, he said. "They responded, saying
it depended on sponsors. They had to look for sponsors."
"Just imagine. The November 10 Battle (in 1945). That was such
an epic in which two British generals were killed in Surabaya...
They, and their troopers, many of whom took part in the war
against Nazi Germany, were slain.
"Yet, it's never been shown on TV. It's pathetic. Really
pathetic," Alwi said.
"Instead, I keep seeing these Indian and Chinese movies on TV
all the time," he said, adding that Indonesia should establish a
non-commercial station like they have in the U.S.
The November 10 Battle saw the British-led Allied Forces
arriving in the East Java city to try to reimpose Dutch colonial
rule a few months after the end of World War II.
Both sides suffered casualties and the day has since been
commemorated in Indonesia as National Heroes Day.
Indonesian leaders declared independence on August 17, 1945,
only a few days after Japanese forces surrendered to the Allied
Forces. Their move preempted Dutch return to Indonesia.
A stiff and bloody war ensued for the next four years between
Indonesia and the Netherlands, and ended with the recognition of
Indonesia's sovereignty at the end of 1949.
Alwi, who witnessed many of these battles, has put together at
least eight documentary films. He is also chairman of the
November 10 Foundation.
Alwi recalled that last year, in connection with Indonesia's
50th independence anniversary, the government compelled all TV
stations to broadcast some documentary films.
"But they were short takes relayed during the 9 p.m. news," he
said, adding that his films, put together, stretch for "26,000
feet, or about three kilometers".
He said his latest production would be screened by state-owned
TVRI which will also interview survivors of that event, including
Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs Soesilo Soedarman and
Faisal Abda'oe, president of state-oil company Pertamina.
Alwi said he was working on two other documentaries, one of
them about the Provisional Government of the Republic of
Indonesia founded in 1949 when Yogyakarta fell into Dutch hands
and president Sukarno and other republican leaders were captured.
The other revolves around Indonesia's struggle in the
diplomatic front.
"We just got the good news two days ago. They have found from
the UN archive footage of Sutan Syahrir, Agus Salim, Soemitro
Djojohadikusumo and Soedjatmoko speaking before the Security
Council complaining about the Dutch military action."
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now trying to obtain the
film. It's important, for it marked the first time we entered
diplomacy that later proved to be successful." (emb)