Djakarta 1946

Jakarta, 1946. Nationalist leaders have declared Indonesian independence, but the city remains under Dutch rule, leading to a fierce battle between the army and the resistance movement. Meanwhile, Fatimah, a resilient housewife, is fighting an inner moral battle: she cannot choose between her husband Isa, a war hero who has become a violin teacher and is in the resistance, and Hazil, Isa's charming brother-in-arms. Djakarta 1946, shown at the last IFFR as This City Is a Battlefield, is an adaptation of the 1952 novel A Road with No End by Mochtar Lubis.

A brilliant historical thriller that intelligently interweaves intimate romantic drama with political intrigue. The courageous Fatimah is the emotional centerpiece, and her complex, contradictory character is dissected with compassion and without judgment. Mouly Surya's fifth feature film provides a highly detailed picture of colonial Jakarta in all its seductive and cruel facets, supported by thrilling action scenes and excellent leading roles. The film explores timeless human feelings in a specific historical setting, painting a picture of individuals and a country yearning for autonomy and freedom.