Turang (1957)

Exterminated in Indonesia during the communist purge of 1965, and found in a film vault in 2022 through a network of transnational cinematic alliances, Turang is an important archival document of decolonisation. Set within an indigenous Karo community, the film follows Rusli, a leader of the people’s militia who is severely wounded during a confrontation with Dutch troops. Hidden in a village in Dutch territory, Rusli is entrusted to the care of the village chief and his daughter, Tipi. Rusli’s recovery unfolds against the backdrop of pastoral scenes of everyday village life, uncovering quiet acts of solidarity, the strains of colonial rule, and a tender romance that blossoms amid resistance. Bachtiar Siagian’s Turang is one of several post-independence Indonesian films depicting the struggle against Dutch colonial rule. Unlike many contemporaneous works that exalt glorious military heroism, Turang foregrounds the crucial role of ordinary people in liberation movements.