Red and White

There are numerous incredibly important pieces of world history about which I know little or nothing as there are myriad countries that have been occupied, involved in wars, played a crucial role in some life changing event or have revolted against their occupiers with massive repercussions. Among these numerous countries is Indonesia, a state that, like so many others, was seized by the more powerful European countries and, in 1602, became an extension of the Dutch empire (with a little help from Britain) as the country - the world's largest archipelago - became known as The Dutch East India Trading Company. Things stayed pretty much the same until the Second World War when the Japanese encouraged the resistance movement and Indonesia became an independent country until August 9, 1945, when the Dutch army attempted to retake control only two days after the war had finished.

Red and White (the two colours in the Indonesian flag) follows a group of disparate men who enlist in the Army and you see how they initially form cliques with a Christian farmer, Tomas, left on the outside because of his religion and poor upbringing compared to a couple of Muslim graduates Surono and Marius who, particularly Marius, consider themselves superior to everyone else. During the initial training, religious and class tensions flare but, as is usual for a film like this, they are soon forgotten as the unlikely group band together and it doesn't matter if someone is a Muslim University graduate or a Christian chicken farmer, they are all Indonesian soldiers who want to bring back the Republic.

At a social event organised by the army, everyone is having a great time until the Dutch launch a mortar attack followed by gunfire which sends everyone running for safety and separates six of the newly qualified soldiers from their brigade. Lost in the country are desperate to get back to their friends and continue the fight against the Dutch occupiers, Tomas, Marius and the rest of the group must put previous quarrels behind them.

The Dutch are very easy to dislike as they are, to a man, sadistic racists who think nothing of massacring a family and burning down the house if they think that someone has lied to them and with a superiority complex that isn't too far removed from the recently-vanquished German Nazis. It is therefore a bit of a shame that not enough is made of Marius' parentage with his father being a Dutch trader and it's odd that he should take this to put him in a position where he looks down on others rather than being them ridiculing him for being related to the enemy.


There is a great deal about this film to like with excellent production values, acting and direction and is also lifts the lid on a piece of history about which I knew nothing. The action sequences are very well put together and staged as this is supposedly the most expensive Indonesian war film ever made, with the filmmakers bringing in western help in the form of Herbert Blank and Adam Howarth to do the special effects and stunts. It is perhaps worth bearing in mind that Blank had worked on films including V for Vendetta and Resident Evil whilst Howarth had been on such films as as Black Hawk Down and Rescue Dawn. Also from the other side of the world are father and son filmmaking team Conor and Rob Allyn who wrote the screenplay.

Perhaps the most positive thing I can say about Red and White (Indonesian title Merah Putih) is that I was pleased to find out that it was the first in a trilogy and I am looking forward to seeing the second instalment.


The Disc

Extra Features
Not a great deal of substance on the disc as I suppose a commentary by Indonesian director Yadi Sugandi isn't really one that the production company/distributors would commission for the export market but it is a little surprising not to hear more from Connor and Rob Allyn. All that is included on the disc is:

The Making of Red and White (23:43) isn't quite as in-depth as you would perhaps expect from a featurette this length but it does go into the (almost) culture clash that took place with the Indonesian crew not quite knowing what to make of the English pyrotechnic and stunt work experts and also surprised at how much effort needs to go into costuming so many actors.

The disc also includes the English language trailer.


The Picture
I was initially impressed by the opening scene in which Tomas is walking through the lush forest, tracking down a chicken when he spies a Dutch army patrol killing a peasant family and burning their house as it displays the bright greens of the jungle foliage, yellows and oranges of the fire and the bright blue sky extremely well. The picture quality continues in this vein throughout the film with only some occasional instances of moiré and aliasing.

I have no idea how much it cost the production company to bring in outside help, but Herbert Blank and Adam Howarth were worth every penny (or Rupiah) as some of the pyrotechnic and stunt work, particularly towards the end, is extremely well done and brings a Hollywood feel to this Indonesian film.


The Sound
The only option is a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround Indonesian track with excellent English subtitles; there is also some Dutch spoken and this is also subtitled. The soundtrack is impressive with good separation and directional sound so the dialogue is clear (although this wasn't such an issue to me as I don't speak a single word of Indonesian) and the explosions used the surround speakers and subwoofer to good effect.

The score, by Thoersi Argeswara, keeps the emotions high on and underscores the more horrific and exciting elements of guerrilla warfare in equal measure.


Final Thoughts
Red and White (Merah Putih) is a fairly typical and occasionally clichéd war film, the sort in which a band of misfits must put their differences and backgrounds to one side in order to defeat a common enemy. It is the sort of film that will pique interests because it tackles a largely unknown piece of world history. It is a shame that the pacing is occasionally quite sluggish but, when it gets going, it is a decent watch and I just wonder whether the third part in the instalment will tackle General Suharto's rise to power and bloody clampdown in East Timor.