TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Indonesia on screen: Five documentaries capture the archipelago's glory

As the pandemic forces us to stay indoors, we pick the best local documentaries to help you feel like you’re traveling around Indonesia to learn more about our rich cultural heritage.

Vania Evan (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Wed, February 24, 2021 Published on Feb. 24, 2021 Published on 2021-02-24T11:20:29+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Still from 'Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo' with actor Rio Dewanto (right) Still from 'Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo' with actor Rio Dewanto (right) (Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo/Courtesy of 'Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo')

H

ome to a wide range of natural glory, from Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia is abundant in cultural gems not to be overlooked. While distance, cost and the current pandemic may constraint us from bearing witness to the uniqueness Indonesia has to offer, some documentaries let us escape the confines of our homes for scenarios that elicit a sense of pride and belonging.

Here are five rural documentaries made by local creators that serve as vehicles to higher appreciation of our cultural richness:

Filosofi Kopi: Aroma Gayo (2020)

Between the screen and the streets: What it means to watch and not march

From The Weekender

Between the screen and the streets: What it means to watch and not march

What does it mean to care from a distance? A reflection on privilege and digital solidarity.

Read on The Weekender

Dir. Rahung Nasution / 27 minutes

Available on Bioskop Online (bioskoponline.com)

The film follows actor Rio Dewanto on his journey to the land of Gayo coffee, delving deep into what lies behind each sip of coffee. As the world's largest arabica-coffee-producing region, Gayo is a place that is close to the heart of coffee aficionados including Rahung Nasution, the documentary’s director.

"As someone who comes from (the) Mandailing (regency in North Sumatera), renowned as the world's best arabica producing region, coffee is a commodity that I hold dear not only for the taste but also for its history and impact," Rahung told The Jakarta Post.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.