A Controversial Movie G30S PKI: Should it aired again?

A Controversial Movie G30S PKI: Should it aired again?

By Intan Permatasari

The Betrayal of Thirtieth of September Movement Indonesian Communist Party, better known as the Betrayal G30S PKI is a historical movie that reaps a lot of controversy. The movie that released in 1984 and directed by Arifin C. Noer, tells about the dark history of Indonesia in 1965, where many generals were killed by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

This movie won an award at 1984 Indonesia movie Festival and reached the highest number of viewers, because at that time national television of Indonesia, TVRI was commanded to broadcast this movie every year on the evening of 30 September. Even though this movie shows a lot of violence scenes, both students and civil servants are required to watch this movie every year. This movie finally stopped airing every year since the fall of Soeharto in 1998.

Stopped airing, this movie caused a lot of debate. Many consider this movie very good to be aired every year, so the new generation knows about the dark history of Indonesia, this movie can also inform the new generation of how cruel the PKI was at that time. However, there are also many people who oppose the screening of the movie, they assumed the movie, directed by Arifin C. Noer, had falsified the facts.

There are many facts about history that deviated from this movie, that is the reason why this movie gets a lot of criticism from various parties. Quoted by several sources, this is a historical fact that deviates from the movie of the Betrayal G30S PKI:

1. The map of Indonesia in the Kostrad room already contains Timor Timur know as Timor Leste now, as an Indonesian territory. But in fact, in the year 1965, Timor Leste region was not integrated with Indonesia.

2. Deputy Chair of the Central Committee (CC) PKI Lukman Njoto was shown attending to PKI meeting. Though the fact is Lukman Njoto has not held a structural position since 1964 because of an ideological conflict with D.N Aidit, a senior leader of PKI.

3. The dead generals were persecuted such as gouged out by their eyes, in razor blades, until they were cut off their genitals. But, all scenes in the movie are not true. Post mortem and autopsy data from a combined five doctors from RSPAD and the University of Indonesia (UI) stated that General Ahmad Yani was killed by 10 gunshot wounds.

4. In this movie it is described as if Bung Karno was seriously ill. In fact, on the historical facts at that time Bung Karno’s condition was very healthy. Bung Karno attended a number of National Technical activities at Istora Senayan Jakarta.

Because of many scenes that deviated from the facts of history, it made many parties reconsider the screening of the movie the Betrayal G30S PKI. This movie is good because it shows how cruel the PKI was at that time, but the existence of scenes that deviate from the facts of history will make many people misunderstand and believe in that lie. Lies in historical movies in my opinion are very fatal, because the movies are labelled as historical stories, then the person who watch those movies will easily trust in every scene in movie. This movie also shows so many scenes of violence that are very sadistic, I think this is a minus value for this movie. Sadistic scenes in this movie were not censored, even though at that time many elementary school students were required to take part in watching this historical movie. Even KPAI considers this movie was not worth watching by children because it can cause bad trauma to them. There are also so many words that children do not deserve to hear.

Until now, the re-screening of the movie G30S PKI is still a debate. In my opinion, if this movie wants to go back to airing every year, it’s better to reproduce or remake this film. The violence scene should be censored, so the children can watch this film.

Watching Indonesian Historical movies is very important, so we as a young generation will have a lot of information about our country. But, it’s better for us as viewers to not trust every scene in the movie. Finding out the truth first is the best way for us spare from HOAX. So, do you think this movie should aired again every year in national television Indonesia?