Inglourious Indonesian Bastards

I love the story (since it's fiction, it doesn't relate to any particular history plot), but it still relevant to general idea of Indonesian colonized era. The characters are also interesting, strengthening by great actors to name Lukman Sardi, Donny Alamsyah, Darius, and even model/scandalous governor (Zumi Zola). This is the first time I enjoy Indonesian drama-action. It must included some foreigners as directors or at least for special effects. I don't see a lot of good Indonesian movies, but as I can remember, Indonesian movie are all about panorama motion pictures (other than ghost or tacky-comedy related). So, this movie is pretty standout. It is disappointing that the last two sequels didn't show at foreign countries. CMIIW, but I think the estimated budget for this movie was over USD6 millions.

Merah Putih was set in 1947, the producer's homage to especially his relatives, a 21-year old lieutenant and a 16-year old cadet, who died defending the republic during the time. This film boasts of a crew that also comprises of experts who have been involved in blockbusters like The Dark Knight and Blackhawk Down.

Amir (played by perhaps the greatest Indonesian actor of the new generation, Lukman Sardi) was a teacher who at first refused to join the battles. But after one of his student died in the hands of the Japanese, now he decided to be up in arms against the returning Dutch forces. He joined Sekolah Perwira – a school for officers – and met an array of characters there.

There was also Surono (Zumi Zola) who had to leave his older sister, the only family he got left in this world, behind. He joined the school with his best friend during his university years, blueblooded, stuck-up Marius (Darius Sinathrya, who surprisingly pulled a convincing performance, although some say his Persian looks aren't too in line with his character as a Javanese nobleman, or priyayi). They both came late to their first day at school, having spent the night bingeing.

The school didn't only take in highly educated people – it also received a farmhand ("We keep chicken, not pigs, Marius") named Tomas (Donny Alamsyah). Being a Christian and a Manadonese ("Dutch dogs!" claimed Marius in disgust), Tomas became the target of bullying by the Javanese proud priyayi boy. Somehow Marius found Tomas a better object to ridicule than the Hindu Balinese, Dayan, a very polite and calm knife-wielder. (I heard the audience whispered, "How polite!" every time Dayan gave a greeting with his palms closed in one another, fingers extended touching.) The frictions of the characters – and how they try to settle them down – are one of the most interesting points of the film, especially when they found themselves beaten black and blue, surrounded by the Dutch forces, with the hesitant, newly-made Lieutenant Amir as their sole leader! I must give credits to all the actors and actresses here for showing us a top-class performance. Some viewers who watched the film with me even handclapped because they felt so excited! (And somebody shouted 'Amen' when Marius wondered on screen whether they could escape the Dutch – it was just one of the moments why watching films on theatres is so interesting!) For Indonesians, the film would feel so… cool. To see our heroes smashing the Dutch soldiers to pieces with so few men and arms really drew the outloud comments of 'Cooooool' from the audience. But this film lacked the humanity shown even by revolution-era writers like Nugroho Notosusanto or Idrus – the capability of showing that the enemies were human too.

But well, the story's still long – MP is the first part of a trilogy – and perhaps there will be more details about the Dutch characters later. In MP, they're shown as nothing but evil pigs trying to snatch the land from the Indonesians again. But then again perhaps that's what nationalist films should be… Remember Braveheart and The Patriot? And, oh, please, I don't believe anyone's clothes can be that squeaky clean when they've spent a day and a night in the woods. At least the butt of their trousers will show some signs, no?

A big budget movie, with a great casts and crew, great promotion & gimmick..I get a red-white mini flag in cinema entrance, such a sweet give away..

But all will be waste, if you don't have a strong script to begin with. A lot of home works are not done by writers and I have a guess, they don't really like history in their school. And this is not because the writers are not local Indonesian

If I can compare, at the same time, we have 'MERANTAU" that have a local content as much as MERAH PUTIH, written & directed by non-Indonesian guy and the result is superb... Merah Putih is big suck! They need to learn more about our history or consult with the expert or whatever need to be done since the budget is not the issue, hopefully before the 2nd and 3rd installment out.

I still have faith for this movie..Hope I am not wrong this time.

As a dutch citizen and war veteran I have a different look at this movie. I do not approve of this situation end colonization in general. That is an issue of generations past, but do have an aversal to this ill display of dutch conscripts in general. Most of these boys were shipped here just after been enslaved by the third Reich and just wanted business as usual. The dutch had these isles for three hundred years and considered these isles as dutch soil. Dutch conscripts just acted in honor to there background. There obviously are bad apples on the Dutch side, but there where bad apples on both sides. Since 60 years have past. nuances would be made clearer and both viewpoints should have been made more clear. In general a good movie in my view, but in staid of South African barely Dutch speaking actors. Dutch natives should be used.

Best regards, Arjan

I have just seen this movie in Australia (with English sub-titles) and thought it was great. My Bahasa Indonesia was not adequate to judge the quality of the Indonesian script, but I saw it with fluent Indonesian speakers, and they thought the movie was very good also. The acting was excellent, and the story was interesting as it showed the revolution from a more human perspective than we usually see. When it finished, everyone in the theatre was saying that they could not wait for the second film in the trilogy. I don't know what "blabberbrat" was talking about when he/she said there were no war scenes!!! Two armies running around shooting each other, people being killed all over the place, locals' houses being burnt, trucks being blown up and so on.....what was that if not war? That's what war in the jungle is like, apparently, not the glamourised rubbish that comes out of Hollywood. Bring on the second movie, I'm dying to see what happens to Amir and his wife (she still hasn't told him about the baby!), Tomas & Senja (hmm.....do I see a romance coming?)& will Marius turn out to be a good human being in the end? And will we learn what Dayan is all about? Oh, and yes, Indonesia will become a republic (I know the ending there!).