Knew the existence of the book and learned the tragic history surrounding the events captured in the book as middle school student in northern West Java. (Lebak, where most of the events took place, is only less than 150km away).
Bought and read the H.B. Jassin's 1972 Indonesian translation of the book as a twenty-something year-old young man just graduated from university, also in West Java.
And finally watched the screen adaptation as a father of two just a few days ago.
Truly a must-watch (and the book, a must-read). An epic saga of human cruelty, both by physical means and means of denial. Superb naturalistic music (who needs artificial musical score when Java sings almost all the time in the film...).
And haunting finale will stay with you: when Havelaar cries out to a still picture of his king "en dat gebeurt in Uw Naam!"/"And all happens in your name!"/"(Dan semua terjadi) atas namamu!", and the film concludes with a whole church congregation singing Dutch rendering of Psalm 67 taken from The Genevan Psalter. Being an Indonesian, I can fully understand the irony conveyed by that final scene.
Again, quality films like this should be made more often.
Bought and read the H.B. Jassin's 1972 Indonesian translation of the book as a twenty-something year-old young man just graduated from university, also in West Java.
And finally watched the screen adaptation as a father of two just a few days ago.
Truly a must-watch (and the book, a must-read). An epic saga of human cruelty, both by physical means and means of denial. Superb naturalistic music (who needs artificial musical score when Java sings almost all the time in the film...).
And haunting finale will stay with you: when Havelaar cries out to a still picture of his king "en dat gebeurt in Uw Naam!"/"And all happens in your name!"/"(Dan semua terjadi) atas namamu!", and the film concludes with a whole church congregation singing Dutch rendering of Psalm 67 taken from The Genevan Psalter. Being an Indonesian, I can fully understand the irony conveyed by that final scene.
Again, quality films like this should be made more often.