Experiencing Interruptions?

Departures

Indra, a teaching assistant, is having an identity crisis and decides to propose Bagas, his older male professor, to do the unthinkable when he finds out that Bagas is about to leave for abroad.

  • Kurnia Alexander
    Director
  • Kurnia Alexander
    Writer
  • Rayner Wijaya
    Producer
  • Rizal Iwan
    Key Cast
    "Bagas"
  • Kurnia Alexander
    Key Cast
    "Indra"
  • Rayner Wijaya
    Key Cast
    "Jatmiko"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Departures
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Coming of Age
  • Runtime:
    25 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 29, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    Indonesia
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    Indonesian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Kurnia Alexander

Through renting VCDs, Kurnia Alexander knew from a young age that he wanted to become a filmmaker and has worked tirelessly to achieve his dreams. Now, he has the privilege of working under the guidance of Gina S. Noer, one of the most prolific figures of Indonesian cinema.

His film “Closeting” has been showcased at various film festivals such as Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival and The Bangalore Queer Film Festival and received a nomination for Best Short Film at the Piala Maya. His latest film “In the Words of Firman” won the Europe on Screen Short Film Pitching Project and was selected for Academy Awards® accredited Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Madrid 29th LGBTI+ Film Festival, and Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival.

Through his films, Kurnia is dedicated to highlighting the struggles faced by queer groups and other “underdogs” of Indonesia. His aim is for both himself and others not to feel alone, and for society to treat them with the dignity they deserve. Humanity is the cornerstone of Kurnia’s artistry.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Through Departures, I want to capture the confusion that queer people often feel as they enter adulthood—particularly around love and sex, which are often seen as mutually inclusive.

But are they really mutually inclusive? Or can one exist fully without the other? If so, how can we tell if a feeling is genuine? And if these questions aren’t difficult enough, there are still other factors at play: sexual orientation, age differences, and the political climate of the country one lives in.

By exploring these questions and factors, I want to challenge them—until they evolve into a character study, and in the process, hopefully, into a study of society as well. I want this film to evoke contemplation and reflection, especially for audiences in Indonesia, a country where LGBTQ+ people still cannot live safely.