Small history info - On 17 August 1945, nationalist leaders in Indonesia declared independence following the defeat of Japan in World War II. The Netherlands, which had previously occupied the country for 350 years, promptly re-invaded and spent the next four years engaged in a brutal war to reconquer its former colony. Perversely, they attempted to justify their invasion as a continuation of the WWII fight for "democracy" against Japanese fascism. Dutch forces were backed up by 30,000 British troops (mostly from India), and they killed up to 100,000 Indonesian fighters as well as tens of thousands of civilians, many of them in mass, summary executions. There were also conflicts within the nationalist ranks: when an Indonesian Soviet Republic was declared by socialists and communists in 1948 it was quickly suppressed by the nationalists, and its leader killed. Eventually, despite a string of military victories by the colonists, by 1949 they were forced to grant Indonesian independence.

this movie, overall, if you expect somekind of rough battlefield thing, I warn you: It's not. It tells you a lot about the main character and what surrounds him during that time. For me it's not that dark, but it has such a depressing ending despite all that great sceneries, music, and even everyone in this film did their best for every details of it. That just proof how good this film is. Amazing!

Found this by accident on a streaming service and it did not disappoint. The character development was strong, the action sequences were nice, and the ending was phenomenal.

The story is about a boy who his father was arrested for being Nazi, he sign up for military thinking he would do something good for the country then he find thw truth Netherlands was doing the same as nazi to indonesia

The many comments added in with snippets of the history behind this are quite fascinating. It also begs the question of "Can't we all just get along?" Apparently not.

The paradoxical thing is that once Indonesia became independent, it did exactly the same to the West Papua, enslaving their inhabitants.

After the end of World War II, the peoples of Indonesia revolted against the Dutch and British colonialists. During the 1945-1949 war, Indonesia gained independence, losing about 100,000 people killed, most of whom were civilians who became victims of the butchery policy of the Dutch who tried to drown the uprising in blood, but received many years of guerrilla warfare on several islands with which they they could not do anything.

Gramps was a Heiho recruited from East Nusa Tenggara. When the first allied wave came his superiors were still calm and tells them that it's nothing but some surprise strike from the allies. Later hw found out from his native indonesian officer that the heihos would be deployed as a cannon fodder in the upcoming second wave, and along with his other 15 friends decided that it's not worth it. Man ran away snagging one of the tanto of the japanese soldier and one bolt-action arisaka rifle, and that thing was buried with him back in 1993.

Terima kasih for acknowledging the history. What a brave team to even write the script. 🧡

My Wife of 37yrs is Dutch Indonesian her father an Indonesian in Dutch service as a bomber Mechanic was a POW of the Japanese as her Dutch Police Major Grandfather was also ( They were both horribly tortured by the Japanese ), his daughters fled up to the tea plantations where they waged Guerilla war on the Japanese invaders. Once WW 2 ended the Islamists rebelled and cast off Dutch rule. However 'like nowadays' the Indonesian Muslims hated and grossly mistreated the Indonesians who were Christians or Hindu. My wife's family were forced to Monaquwarie New Guinea until they were able to get passage to the Netherlands then to the United States where they are proud citizens many being career US Army. Note: The Indo Islamists are as bad as Hamas as are the Islamists rioting in America today.

My Opa and groote opa fought the Japanese in Indonesia, my opa fought in this conflict as well.

I wonder how the Dutch could afford to fight a colonial war at that point when Great Britain could hardly do it in Greece.

Well, almost original, except for the music in the local market, they are using Balinese music in the background in Javanese local market (bali and java island is separated) Love The Cinematography Though.

That's some sick camo tho

KEREN

I have no doubt those who talked shit about this movie haven't actually seen it 🤡👍🏼

campur aduk banget liat film ini, ohh Indonesia kuuu sedihh sekali liatnyaaa

Can anyone name me the song in the end of this movie!

Jujur bagus sekali

Londo westerling !! Tragedy in Celebes Island