On Monday (June 16th), the Cultural and Media Program, Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a screening and discussion of the short film Annah la Javanaise, directed by Fatimah Tobing Rony—Professor Emerita of Film and Media Studies, School of Humanities, University of California, Irvine. This animated short film portrays Indonesian culture in 1893.
Annah la Javanaise is inspired by the true story of a 13-year-old girl who was taken to France and made to serve as both a domestic servant and model for the famous French painter, Paul Gauguin. The film highlights the dark reality of colonialism, particularly the case of a girl sold by her own family. Fatimah Tobing reconstructs this story and presents it in an award-winning short film, which notably received the Best Film Award at the Edinburgh Short Film Festival in 2021.
“Our style is semi-realistic, based on my personal experiences living in Java. This is an adventure film—a journey of a girl trying to return home. While the story is fictional, there is a central message that makes this film unique. We are giving voice to a girl whose story has never been told from an Indonesian perspective,” said Fatimah.
The event sparked lively and interactive discussions among students and lecturers in attendance. One of the key topics discussed was the entrenched patriarchy of the time, which devalued women. Dr. Budiawan, a lecturer and Chief of the Cultural and Media Doctoral Program in UGM Graduate School, pointed out that the cultural and social systems of the era treated women as mere commodities: upper-class women were “sold” into marriage with nobles, while lower-class women were “sold” into roles as concubines or servants.
The screening and discussion of Annah La Javanaise took place in a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere. Although fictional in format, the film is based on a real historical figure, and the colonial practices depicted truly reflect the dark chapters of history.
Writer: Muthia Nur Arifah