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Indonesia Calling

Name: Indonesia Calling
Director: Joris Ivens
Released: 1946
Duration: 23 min

Representation Score

3.1/10

Limited

1946

Director

Joris Ivens

Runtime

23 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Joris Ivens' documentary is a landmark of anti-colonial cinema that centers the Indonesian independence movement. It successfully disrupts colonial clichés by portraying Indonesian seamen as active political agents rather than passive subjects. This focus on racial and ethnic ability to act provides a powerful look at globalized labor. However, the film is heavily constrained by the gendered industrial realities of the 1940s. The focus on maritime and dockworking environments results in a nearly exclusive depiction of a male workforce, offering little to no representation for women. Ultimately, the film excels as a tool for social mobilization. It trades traditional demographic breadth for a deep, systemic critique of Western hegemony and imperialist power structures.

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Category Breakdown

Does Indonesia Calling have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film operates within a mid-century maritime framework. There is no discernible presence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing non-straight identities.

How does Indonesia Calling portray gender?

Limited

The narrative focuses on the male-dominated dockworking industries of the 1940s. While not actively misogynistic, the film lacks meaningful roles for female characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Indonesia Calling?

Excellent

The film highlights the ability to act of Indonesian seamen and their solidarity with Australian unionists. It portrays non-Western subjects as primary drivers of political change.

How does Indonesia Calling represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film provides a profound critique of Western colonial structures and capitalist exploitation. It prioritizes international labor solidarity over religious or nationalistic cohesion.

Does Indonesia Calling include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no documented evidence regarding the representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within this work.

Present on Screen

Centers Indonesian ability to act in the fight for independence.
Powerful portrayal of solidarity between diverse labor groups.
Effective deconstruction of Western colonial and capitalist hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

Significant lack of female representation due to the industrial setting.
Complete absence of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives.
No visible representation of individuals with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Filmed secretly in Sydney by Dutch documentarian Joris Ivens, this short records the solidarity of Indonesian seamen, Australian trade unionists, and local activists who refused to support Dutch efforts to restore colonial rule after World War II. More than a chronicle, it was an act of protest that aligned cinema with the Indonesian independence movement.

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