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)