Film: Red And White
Release date: 7th February 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 108 mins
Director: Yadi Sugandi
Starring: Doni Alamsyah, Rahayu Saraswati, Lukman Sardi, Darius Sinathrya, T. Rifnu Wikana
Genre: Drama/War
Studio: Kaleidoscope
Format: DVD & Blu-ray
Country: Indonesia
Western history has largely ignored the fate of Indonesia in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The fight to regain the country’s freedom from Dutch colonial rule is the subject matter of Red And White, cinematographer Yadi Sugandi’s debut feature as a director. The film is the first instalment in a trilogy celebrating Indonesian independence, and as the most expensive film in the country’s history, carries a great weight of expectation.
Red And White begins with archive WWII footage, alongside which we are informed that, in 1945, two days after the Japanese Emperor’s surrender in the Pacific, Indonesia declared its independence. In 1947, 100,000 Dutch troops arrived at Indonesia’s coastline in order to re-establish Dutch rule of the country. The archive footage fades and we are deep in the Indonesian jungle, as Dutch troops advance on a poor farming family, and viciously and needlessly murder everyone in sight. Hidden from view, Tomas (Alamsyah) watches as his family is murdered; and a soldier is born.
After this fast paced and intense opening, we are then introduced to a number of characters from various social and religious backgrounds, all of whom are joining the Republican army with different motivations. Amir (Sardi) is a school teacher who dreams of a free Indonesia for future generations, unaware that his wife is pregnant. Marius (Darius Sinathrya) is an arrogant ‘city boy’ who seeks personal glory. As the cadets begin their training, tensions run high between Tomas and Marius, but the two must set aside their differences and focus on the common goal: an independent Indonesia. As the group eventually bond, and graduate as soldiers, they are immediately thrust into the thick of the action, as the bombs start falling…
Red And White are the colours of the Indonesian flag, and there is a patriotism which runs through this celebration of triumph over adversity. This is very clear from the heroic exploits of the Indonesian freedom fighters, and the cold, heartless representation of the Dutch soldiers. Strange, then, that the film is written by American father/son team Rob and Conor Allyn. The older Allyn certainly has experience of working in Indonesia, having spent a large part of his career making television there, and there is a tangible affection for the country in their story. Equally obvious is the influence of American war films such as The Dirty Dozen and Kelly’s Heroes, with the camaraderie within the group which gradually emerges as the film goes on. A less positive aspect of these influences is the melodrama which distracts from the historical significance of the story. Soaring, dramatic music plays over scenes of sisters and wives seeing their loved ones off to battle, and enemy soldiers utter such preposterously evil lines as: “these natives, so easy to kill,” which could feasibly be accompanied by an Austin Powers style group mwuhahaha.
Such weaknesses in the script are accompanied by equally stilted battle sequences, particularly in the scene in which the Dutch forces interrupt the cadets’ graduation night. The scene begins well with an explosion, which provides both a jolt in the middle of a mellow party and a huge and impressive pillar of fire. What follows is a series of overly staged deaths, in which extras wait around for their moment to be dramatically gunned down, and characters deliver overly sentimental dying words, all of which is accompanied by explosions quite blatantly provided by studio lights. There is no sense of the frantic, frightening brutality of war here. This is a shame as there are powerful and thought-provoking moments; particularly when a group of villagers tell the soldiers that they would rather take their chances with the Dutch, which raises questions about the nature of freedom.
The actors do a good job of evoking a group spirit and unity in the face of peril, but are again let down by the script which does not provide enough character development to reach the desired levels of empathy. Considering the film is the first in a trilogy, it would have benefited from more time getting to know the characters. A flashback into Amir’s past is well framed, and helps to explain his motivations, but it is the only scene of this kind and, despite being one of the better elements of the film, seems out of place.
Of course, a film which is made specifically to celebrate Indonesian independence is going to be one-sided, but there are questions that are never explored, such as how a nation which had itself been under Nazi occupation could commit such acts of cruelty. Such moral conundrums are not even approached by Sugandi, and we are left with a mediocre, lightweight war film instead of what could have been a thoughtful piece, which not only praised the resistance to oppression but analysed it. There is a remarkable story to tell here, but Red And White fails to do it justice.
Poorly written, well-acted and unevenly put together, Red And White is a mixed bag. The historical situation is interesting enough to hold the attention, but the film is never powerful or dramatic enough to generate any real emotion. While there are enjoyable moments, there is not enough here to make returning to the story for the sequel worthwhile. PK
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