10 March: Introduction and interview
On Friday 10 March, the film will be introduced by journalist and researcher Joss Wibisono. After the film, Wibisono will speak with one of the exiles from the documentary.
The Exiles
When Suharto rose to power in Indonesia in 1965, among his most sweeping actions was a mass purge against members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), killing thousands and sending floods of people into exile. Decades later, the effects of his 31-year-long rule persist. This meticulously researched documentary follows former PKI members who fled to Europe. It thoughtfully captures their displaced sense of belonging and the way they carry the traumas of the past.
Deftly weaving together archival footage and present-day interviews, The Exiles accomplishes the rare feat of telling a nation’s history through the lens of the personal. Shifting between the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, and Indonesia, the film reminds us of the history that is passed from generation to generation and the challenge of narrating the past when home is but a distant memory.
