An idealistic Dutch colonial officer posted to Indonesia in the 19th century is cohvinced that he can make the kinds of changes that will actually help the local people he is in charge of, but circumstances soon make him realize just how out of touch he really is, and it doesn't take long for things to go from bad to worse.
Acting
Peter Faber's unraveling desperation is genuinely painful.
Production
1970s Indonesia shot on location with devastating authenticity.
Writing
Adapts Multatuli's novel without letting anyone off the hook.
Director
Fons Rademakers
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Multatuli's 1860 novel, which actually sparked colonial reform in the Netherlands—though arguably too little, too late.
Director Fons Rademakers won an Oscar for 'The Assault' a decade later, but this film was buried by Dutch distributors uncomfortable with its anti-colonial message.
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ID
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