Interesting Facts From the Film 'WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND', Wins Best Film Award at the Citra FFI 2023

Kapanlagi.com - Written by: Antonia Rucita Nurak

The film WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND became the center of attention after winning the Best Feature Film at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) 2023. WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND managed to beat other titles such as BUDI PEKERTI, 24 JAM BERSAMA GASPAR, LIKE & SHARE, and SLEEP CALL.

Despite competing with a number of films starring renowned Indonesian actors and actresses, the film WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND emerged as the winner. In addition to the Best Feature Film category at the FFI 2023, this film also received three other nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography Director.

This film, which received four nominations at the Indonesian Film Festival 2023, managed to win all of them. Certainly, many Klovers are curious about the facts of the film WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND that swept the Citra FFI 2023 Awards.

Here are the facts about WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND that have been summarized for Klovers.

1. Strong with Women's Issues

WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND is strong with women's issues. This film showcases centuries-old discrimination and traditions that make women a second-class gender in society. The film gives voice to underrepresented women and women living in remote areas.

2. Campaign to Stop Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking

This film is based on real events and issues close to Indonesian society. Sexual violence that occurs against women and men. Not only that, human trafficking is also addressed in this film, considering that NTT is the province with the highest human trafficking rate in Indonesia.

3. Dedicated to the Victims

This film is also dedicated to the victims. Both those who have exposed sexual crimes, become victims of human trafficking, and mothers who fight for justice for their children who have become victims of sexual crimes in East Nusa Tenggara.

4. Debut of director Jeremias Nyangoen

Credit: Instagram.com/jeremiasnyangoen

This film marks the debut of Jeremias Nyangoen as a director. Before directing this film, Jeremias was known as a producer, actor, and film writer. Some of the films he has written include Denias, Senandung di Atas Awan (2006) and Serdadu Kumbang (2011).

5. Premiere

The film WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND premiered at the Busan International Film Festival 2023 on October 7th. The film also screened at the Jakarta Film Week held at the end of October 2023 and won the Direction Award.

In addition, the film Women from Rote Island also screened at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2023 on November 4th. The film also screened at the QCinema International Film Festival 2023 in the Philippines.

6. Actors Never Played in Movies

WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND is played by Van Jhoov, Linda Adoe, Irma Rihi, and Sallum Ratu. These four main actors are native NTT players. Except for Van Jhoov, the other three actors have never acted or been involved in the big screen. Just FYI, local actors were deliberately chosen to maintain the Rote regional accent to obtain the uniqueness of the region.

7. Not Yet Released in Theaters

So far, although it has been screened at film festivals and won the Citra Award, Jeremias Nyangoen's film has never been released in Indonesian theaters. The screening in Indonesian theaters was previously scheduled for October 7, but the film has not yet been shown in Indonesian theaters. Until now, there is no further information regarding when the film Women From Rote Island will be released.

8. Synopsis

The film WOMEN FROM ROTE ISLAND tells the bitter experience of a mother with her three children. Orpa carries the status of a single parent after the death of her husband and raises her three children alone, facing various issues such as discrimination as a widow, the stigma in Rote Island society that women occupy a second-class gender, and even sexual violence.

Not only Orpa, her daughter named Martha also becomes a victim of sexual violence while working abroad. Working as an illegal Indonesian migrant worker in Sabah, Malaysia, she did not receive any wages during her two years of work in a palm oil plantation.

Martha's return is a joy for her family, but she carries the pain of experiencing trauma as a victim of sexual violence. In fact, she suffers from depression after the rape tragedy that happened to her.

(kpl/arn)