Introducing “This City Is a Battlefield” at the Dutch Film Festival Rotterdam
The Dutch Film Festival Rotterdam hands over its largest event year, with the next film bringing a poignant tale of violence and historical roots. This year’s closing film, Mouly Surya’s “This City Is a Battlefield,” focuses on Jakarta in November 1946, a time of nationalist declared independence but still under Dutch rule. The film tragically escalates into blood when tensions escalate, with violent clashes occurring in世纪 city. automobiles. It’s a seminal story that remains deeply/kgained even in modern times.
Surya’s filmམ inni w施工 her prior experiences with U.S.-based directing, particularly with Jessica Alba in the horror-comedy film Triggers.’s edition, leaving her appreciative yet cautious. She acknowledges that having a female director from Indonesia on a U.S. project was “unheard of” and points to her current work as a “second grad student.” She reflects on how far this project has come, emphasizing her desire to bridge the gap between overseas and domestic filmmaking.
The film, adapted from a 1952 novel, offers a layered narrative of relationship strains between a violin teacher, a rebellion信徒, and her spouse. Surya shares personal struggles with education and her connection to the country’s history, creating a>emph deep historical context that extends well into its present. This evokes a sense of continuity and abrupt recognition of the more recent and volatile past, yet it remains deeply sensitive.
Working in the U.S. film industry was challenging due to low-budget hurdles, but co-production with the Netherlands opens up opportunities for better strategies and expectations. Thelangle co-production agreement with Indonesia finalized this year also creates an avenue for subsidies, including a potential 35% rebate. This partnership underscores the festival’s commitment to fostering diversity and innovation, both at home and abroad.
Despite the film’s unsettling tone, Surya views it as a chance to explore more indicative perspectives of culture and storytelling. Hailing from Indonesia, the film has yet to achieve mainstream recognition in the U.S., but it raises the question of what more could be done with creative potential. Through her observations, she reflects on the potential for festivals to offer more than just festivals, finding new life as platforms for critically thinking filmmakers to share their work.
Looking forward, Surya acknowledges the possibility of greater diversity in Indonesia. She urges filmmakers to extend their creative horizons, inviting not just local artists butaversable influences from around the globe. The film of This City Is a Battlefield becomes more than just another screen–it is a call to think critically about the absurdities of colonialism and the importance of preserving history through art.
