It started with the murder of seven generals in Jakarta, on 12 October 1965. Suharto's government blamed the Communist rebels and ordered a gulf of arrests and executions. Estimates of the number of victims vary from half a million to two million.
The poet Ibrahim Kadir, from rebellious Aceh province, was accused of being a Communist activist and jailed for 28 days.
In A Poet, Kadir plays himself and filmmaker Nugroho reinterprets the mass murder and 'the wounds of history'. Largely innocent prisoners, brought together by hellish conditions and the threat of execution, determine the rhythm of the film by singing traditional 'didong' poetry with Kadir. Many of the actors had personal experience of the tragedy. Almost immediately after Suharto's resignation, Indonesian films began addressing the purges of the 1960s. A Poet appeared just two years after the resignation.
Director
Garin Nugroho
Country of production
Indonesia
Year
2000
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
90'
Medium
Betacam Digi
Original title
Puisi tak terkuburkan
Languages
Indonesian, Gayo
Producer
Garin Nugroho
Production Company
SET Film Workshop
Sales
SET Film Workshop
Screenplay
Garin Nugroho, Nana Mulyana
Cinematography
Winaldha E. Melalatoa
Editor
Rahmat Tepe
Production Design
Tonny Trimarsanto
Sound Design
Yuni Kusnadi
Music
Tony Prabowo
Cast
Ibrahim Kadir, Berliana Fibrianti
Director
Garin Nugroho
Country of production
Indonesia
Year
2000
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
90'
Medium
Betacam Digi
Original title
Puisi tak terkuburkan
Languages
Indonesian, Gayo
Producer
Garin Nugroho
Production Company
SET Film Workshop
Sales
SET Film Workshop
Screenplay
Garin Nugroho, Nana Mulyana
Cinematography
Winaldha E. Melalatoa
Editor
Rahmat Tepe
Production Design
Tonny Trimarsanto
Sound Design
Yuni Kusnadi
Music
Tony Prabowo
Cast
Ibrahim Kadir, Berliana Fibrianti