Robert Lemelson's documentary explores the tragic aftermath of the Indonesian government's mid-1960s campaign against suspected communists. In the years following Indonesia's independence in 1945, the local communist party—known as the PKI—was allowed to flourish without limitations; at its peak, the PKI was the third-largest organization of its kind (behind the Soviet Union and China). After an aborted coup against the Sukarno regime on September 30, 1965, a campaign targeting the PKI was unleashed, even though it had played no role in the unsuccessful uprising. Over the next year, the government arrested, tortured, and murdered both PKI members and anyone vaguely suspected of communist sympathies. No official confirmation of the number of people killed during this purge exists, but it's believed to be somewhere between 500,000 and 1 million. Lemelson combines rarely seen Indonesian newsreel footage with a bizarre government propaganda film to visually depict the tumult, while interviews with survivors provide heartbreaking accounts of what transpired. One sad story here involves a married couple forced to place their young son in an orphanage after he was viciously harassed by villagers who viewed the parents with suspicion. Although Indonesian officials prefer to forget this tragic chapter, its impact still haunts the country. Offering a powerful look at a disturbing episode in post–World War II Asian history, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy
(2010) 86 min. In English, Indonesian, Balinese & Javanese w/English subtitles. DVD: $49.95: individuals; $195 (w/PPR): institutions. Documentary Educational Resources. Volume 26, Issue 3
40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy
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