Educational Program

BAHASA INDONESIA: LEARN IT THE EXCITING WAY!
The Rainbow Troops to rally at Wesley College, Melbourne

The 2009 Indonesian Film Festival, together with VILTA and Wesley College proudly presents our Educational Program of ‘Laskar Pelangi’ (Rainbow Troops) (G) screening on 11, 13 and 14 August 2009, specially dedicated for teachers and students in Melbourne.

The concession screening takes place at Wesley College’s Senior School Lecture Theatre, over the course of three days leading up to the Opening Night of Indonesian Film Festival 2009, a feast of Indonesian cinematic delicacies. Five sessions of ‘Laskar Pelangi’ screening has been set, to suit the availability of our audiences.

2009 IFF Educational Program is specially, but not specifically, dedicated for teachers and students of Bahasa Indonesia throughout Victoria. It is our deepest hope that this program can offer a more exciting way of learning Bahasa Indonesia. Moreover, what the audience will be getting from this program is definitely more than knowledge of language. A virtual experience of Indonesian customs and culture is another thing this program will deliver.

There is no better choice of movie than ‘Laskar Pelangi’, as it has scored itself as the most watched movie in theatres, with a whooping audience number of more than 4 millions. The reputation of ‘Laskar Pelangi’ has also been accepted internationally, as it has been awarded the Best Panorama Section in the prestigious Berlin International Festival 2009. On top of that, this down-to-earth tale has also won SIGNIS Awards as the Best Film with Humanitarian and Social Message in Hong Kong International Film Festival 2009, as well as nominated as Best Film and Best Editor at the 3rd Asian Film Awards 2009.

Directed by the talented Riri Reza, ‘Laskar Pelangi’ is a movie about the lower-class students’ struggle for education. In ‘Laskar Pelangi’, a small school in the countryside of Belitong is on the verge of being shut down when enrollment falls due to the emergence of a rival school in the area. Without a complete class of ten students, the school would have to face its fate. Fortunately, the last student arrives at the eleventh hour, hence allowing the school to continue operations. Nevertheless, the school faces all sorts of problems as time goes on. The students live in poverty, making use of whatever nature allows them to study. When the school faces a shortage of funds and students insist on participating in the local carnival, the class puts up a performance in a way arts critics would applaud.

Inspired by a novel of Andrea Hirata, ‘Laskar Pelangi’ will touch your heart and enthuse you to stand up for the frail education system in rural Indonesia.

All screening sessions will be provided with English subtitles. ‘Laskar Pelangi’ has been rated as suitable for General audiences.