- In one of the largest unknown mass-killings of the 20th century, an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 people were secretly and systematically killed in 1965 when General Suharto began a bloody purge of suspected "communists" in Indonesia through a complex and highly contested series of events where he ultimately gained power and the presidency. Under Suharto's authoritarian rule, any discussion or memorializing of the killings that differs from the official state narrative was suppressed. "40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy" follows the compelling testimonies of four individuals and their families, located in Central Java and Bali, two regions heavily affected by the purge, as they break the silence with an intimate look at what it was like for survivors after the mass-killings, during Suharto's New Order regime. The families take us through the events of 1965 through their own experiences as they relive and reflect upon how they were and are still subject to both village- and state-level stigmatization and brutalization. Over time, the survivors and their families attempt to find ways to deal with a tragedy that was and is still not openly recognized by their neighbors, government, or the world. Through their stories, the audience comes to understand the potential for retribution, rehabilitation, and reconciliation in modern-day Indonesia within this troubled historical context.—Anonymous
- 40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy explores the long-term multi-generational effects of the mass-killings in Indonesia in 1965 and 1966, where approximately half a million to a million suspected communists were killed in six months. The documentary weaves together archival footage, photos, interviews with historians and anthropologists, and the testimonies of victims and perpetrators of the 1965 mass-killings to reveal a complex story of politics, death, suffering, and coping.
Shot over the course of 10 years, with over 400 hours of footage, 40 Years of Silence follows four families, all of whom had family members killed or "disappeared" by soldiers and neighbors in the mass-killings in Bali and Java. The survivors and their children break the silence as they reveal how they are still subjected to and cope with the continual harassment, surveillance, and discrimination by the State and their community members.
Even today, few people are aware of the killings since it was hidden from the worlds view with enforced silence for 35 years by the Suharto regime. By providing historical and personal accounts, 40 Years of Silence gives a glimpse into a part of world history which needs to be remembered, discussed, and not forgotten.
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What is the English language plot outline for 40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy (2009)?
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