Indonesian independence was obtained through the struggle and sacrifice of the heroes against the invaders. But unfortunately, there are still many people who do not know how big the sacrifice is. Fortunately, there are still the best war films about Indonesia that can describe the struggle to seize and defend the independence of our homeland.

By watching the best war films about Indonesia, we can know the sacrifices of wealth, energy, and also the lives of the fighters in order to achieve the independence of the beloved Republic of Indonesia. So even though we can't feel the war directly, we can appreciate their struggle in this film. War films about the struggle for Indonesian independence are also important to cultivate a sense of nationalism and patriotism from within us. What are the best war films that tell about the struggle to seize and defend Indonesia's independence? Let's follow the discussion below!

1. Kadet 1947

Also streamed on Netflix, the film Kadet 1947 is the best war film with the theme of Indonesian independence that tells the heroic events of the first Indonesian Air Force air attack in history. The film features actors Bisma Karisma as Cadet Sutardjo Sigit, Ibnu Jamil as Young Commodore Halim Perdana Kusuma, and Ario Bayu as President Soekarno.

The historical event that is recounted in this film is the air attack carried out by the Indonesian Air Force in the Dutch-occupied areas spread across Semarang, Ambarawa, and Salatiga. The attack was carried out by Aviation Cadet Suharnoko Harbani, Mulyono, and Sutardjo Sigit. They were assisted by aerial shooters who were technicians, namely Dulrachman, Sutardjo, and Kaput. The activity, which was conducted on July 29, 1947, used two Cureng and one Guntai aircraft. The heroic incident that day became one of the reasons why the Dutch finally stopped their first military aggression.

2. Merah Putih

One of the best war films about Indonesian independence which shows the struggle against the invaders is Merah Putih. Released on August 13, 2009, this film is the first part of the Merdeka trilogy. The film, directed by Yadi Sugandi, stars many well-known actors and actresses, such as Lukman Sardi, Donny Alamsyah, Darius Sinathrya, Zumi Zola, Teuku Rifnu Wikana, Rahayu Saraswati, Rudy Wowor, and Astri Nurdin.

The story focuses on five cadets who take part in military training, at the Bantir Barracks, Semarang, Central Java. They are Amir (Lukman Sardi), Tomas (Donny Alamsyah), Dayan (Teuku Rifnu Wikana), Soerono (Zumi Zola), and Marius (Darius Sinathrya). Despite having different backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions, they still fought together against the Dutch army.

One day, their barracks were attacked by Dutch soldiers. All the cadets who were there died, except for Amir, Tomas, Dayan, and Marius. They all had to fight to survive and defend Indonesia's independence.

3. Darah Garuda

Darah Garuda or Merah Putih II is one of the best drama films about the Indonesian independence war which was released in 2010. This film, directed by Yadi Sugandi and Conor Allyn, is the second part of the Merdeka trilogy which is the first trilogy about Indonesia’s struggle for independence.

The story is about a group of cadets who survived the massacre of the Dutch army, namely Amir (Lukman Sardi), Marius (Darius Sinathrya), Tomas (Donny Alamsyah), and Dayan (Teuku Rifnu Wikana). They were guerrillas on the island of Java in 1947, coinciding with the occurrence of the First Dutch Military Aggression.

Despite having many differences in terms of personality, social class, and religion, the four young men were determined to launch a guerrilla attack on the Dutch detention camp. However, they met several groups of guerrillas who were suspicious of each other because of differences of opinion. The conflict is further complicated when there is a traitor among their group.

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4. Hati Merdeka

If you have watched the best Indonesian war films, namely Merah Putih and Darah Garuda, don't forget to watch the last part of this trilogy. This film, directed by Yadi Sugandi and Conor Allyn, still stars the same actors and actresses, such as Lukman Sardi, Donny Alamsyah, Darius Sinathrya, Teuku Rifnu Wikana, and many more.

In the third part, the four friends, namely Amir (Lukman Sardi), Marius (Darius Sinathrya), Tomas (Donny Alamsyah), and Dayan (Teuku Rifnu Wikana) must separate from each other. Amir who began to feel hesitant to continue fighting intends to withdraw from the Army.

Meanwhile, Dayan, Tomas, and Marius went to Bali, Dayan's hometown, to help the Balinese people defend their territory. There, they intend to take revenge on Colonel Raymer (Michael Bell), the Dutchman who killed Tomas’ family. The conflict started because Tomas was now the new leader of this cadet group to replace Amir.

5. Battle of Surabaya

This cool animated film by the nation's children can be one of the best war films that tell about the struggle of the Indonesian people. MSV Studio from Yogyakarta worked on a great anime movie entitled Battle of Surabaya which was released in 2015. As the title suggests, this anime tells the story of the battle of Surabaya a few months after World War II ended and the Indonesian nation proclaimed its independence.

The defeat of the Japanese who colonized Indonesia due to the atomic bomb explosion from the United States in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to the Indonesian leaders Bung Karno and Bung Hatta declaring independence on August 17, 1945. The surrender of Japan to the Allied troops in September made the British troops who were riding the Dutch NICA come. to Indonesia to interfere with its independence.

The protagonist in this anime is Musa, a boy who delivers letters that contain messages of a struggle hidden among the lyrics of keroncong songs. Yumna, a young Surabayan girl of Chinese descent who is voiced by popular actress and singer Maudy Ayunda, also joins the struggle with Musa in the turbulence that is taking place in her city.

The well-known actor Reza Rahadian also voices the character Danu, a young ex-military Defender of the Homeland or PETA who dares to fight the British army to protect the city and the people he loves. The battle of hell that took the lives of 2 high-ranking officers at the level of a British general, the victor of World War II, took place in the city of Surabaya, where Indonesian fighters fought to the last drop of blood to defend their independence.

6. De Oost

De Oost or The East, released by the Netherlands in 2021, is one of the best war films that tells about the struggle of the Indonesian people. Tells the story of Johan De Vries (Martijn Lakemeier), a former Dutch partisan fighter who finds it difficult to find a job after his country was freed from the occupation of Nazi Germany in 1945. Being a Dutch soldier who was sent to Indonesia was his last option. Initially consumed by his country's propaganda that called for the dangers of the Indonesian people's resistance led by Soekarno, Japanese collaborators needed the presence of the Dutch army to provide peace.

In fact, Japan, which previously gave a sweet promise of independence to Indonesia, actually tortured and confiscated the property of the inhabitants of the island of Java, making Johan, who loves peace, become hostile to the group of Japanese soldiers. The arrival of Captain Westerling (played by Marwan Kenzari, the actor who played Jafar in the Disney film Aladdin) in the dispute made the Japanese troops who had been defeated by the Allies have to submit to the Dutch and break their promise to support Indonesian independence.

Westerling also carried out a series of sadistic terrors against the Indonesian people by massacring tens of thousands of innocent people as a reason to stifle the struggle of the Republic of Indonesia. Westerling's cruelty made Johan quit his post, Westerling ordered his men to hunt down Johan on the grounds that he was also the son of a Nazi German collaborator who was hated by the Dutch army.

Well, that's the discussion of the 6 best war films that tell the struggle for Indonesian independence. In your opinion, are there other best war films that tell about the struggle for Indonesian independence but have not been discussed here? You can share them in the comments section.

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Also Read >>> [REVIEW] De Oost, The Story of Westerling Slaughterer in the Indonesian War of Independence