Short Film 'Under the Eastern Sky' Portrays Patriotism from Papua's Interior

The short musical film "Di Bawah Langit Timur" (Under the Eastern Sky) offers a poignant portrayal of patriotism, hope, and unity, drawing its narrative from the interior of Papua. Released to commemorate Indonesia's 81st Independence Day, the film seeks to highlight the spirit of the homeland through a unique Eastern perspective.

Set in the Wamena District of Highland Papua, the film centers on Libo, a young Papuan boy, as he journeys to attend a flag-raising ceremony. This journey serves as a narrative gateway to explore themes of struggle, aspiration, and deep affection for Indonesia, presenting a vision of independence as seen from the East.

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I chose Papua because I want to show that Indonesia is as vast as the stories we have. Papua is not just a beautiful place, but about the people and their stories that deserve to be heard.

Director Abet Fahmi chose Papua to underscore the vastness and richness of Indonesia's stories. "I chose Papua because I want to show that Indonesia is as vast as the stories we have. Papua is not just a beautiful place, but about the people and their stories that deserve to be heard," Fahmi stated. He emphasized the importance of the Papuan community and their way of life in the film, casting local residents to maintain authenticity.

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When I wrote this story, I didn't know them, I wanted a native Papuan child to play this role and who actually lived there.

Fahmi noted the challenge of transitioning the main actors from content creators to characters, but their natural spontaneity became a strength. "Di Bawah Langit Timur" conveys that Indonesian unity does not require erasing regional identities. Fahmi hopes the film encourages viewers to see Indonesia as a shared home built upon diverse cultures, languages, traditions, and stories.

The film's message is further amplified by its original soundtrack, "Fajar Indonesia." Composer Sastro Adi explained that the song integrates cultural values from across the archipelago, including concepts like Sipakatau from Bugis-Makassar and Memayu Hayuning Bawana from Java. The creative process was organic, aiming to foster a personal sense of love and dedication to Indonesia.

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I hope we can increasingly see Indonesia as one unit without feeling the need to be the same. We can be different, have our own stories and cultures, but still have the same home.