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An short tale Balanse Madam of Muaro Batang Arau

The history of the existence of the Balanse Madam Dance cannot be separated from the presence of the Portuguese on the west coast of the island of Sumatra. The Batang Arau estuary area from the port entrance is the forerunner of the growth and development of the city of Padang to this day, which was started by the growth of commercial activities in the area. This area began to be crowded when the Portuguese came to trade with the city of Padang at that time. Judging from the presence of the Portuguese in Padang as traders, at the same time, various ethnic groups came, starting with Minang, Chinese, Indian, and Nias people who came and settled in the estuary area of Batang Arau, as seen from the remains of old buildings, places of Chinese worship, and the village of the rivet. So that gave birth to a cultural acculturation called the Balanse Madam dance.

  • Farhan Siddiq
    Director
  • Farhan Siddiq
    Writer
  • Zulfikar Ijul
    Producer
  • Astrid Cintika Putri
    Line Producer
  • Zulfikar iJul
    Director of Photography
  • Yoga Maulana
    Camera Operator
  • Muhammad Tio Fadli
    Drone Operator
  • Amin Hamdi
    Musik Director
  • Syawal El G
    Editor
  • Tawanto Karim
    Key Cast
    "Maestro"
  • Prof. Dr. Phil. Gusti Asnan
    Key Cast
    "Historian"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    MUARO BATANG ARAU "Balanse Madam"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Traditional Dance, Hstory, Minority, Culture, Ethnicity
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 19, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    3,270 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Indonesia
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    English, Indonesian
  • Shooting Format:
    HDTV 1920
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Andalas University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • COLLATERAL 102 CINEFEST 2023
    Turin
    Italy
    Best Short Film
  • GOLDEN LION INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (GLIFF) 2023
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    Best Documentary Short Film
  • KOREA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (KOREAISFF) 2023
    Seoul
    Korea, Republic of
    Nomine Best Short Documentary Film
  • BUSAN NEW WAVE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (BNWSFF) 2023
    Busan
    Korea, Republic of
    Nomine Best Short Documentary Film
  • FIRST-TIME FILMMAKER SESSION LIFT-OFF GLOBAL NETWORK 2023
    Iver, Bukinghamshire
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • Festival del Cinema di Cefalú 2023
    Cefalù, Palermo
    Italy
    Nomine Best Short Documentary Film
  • Student World Impact Film Festival 2023
    Waldwick, New Jersey
    United States
    Nomine Best Short Documentary Film
  • Canada's Yes! Let's Make a Movie Film Festival 2023
    Saint-Leonard,Quebec
    Canada
    Nomine Best Short Documentary Film
  • Aasha International Film Festival 2023
    Nashik, Maharashtra
    India
    Best Short Documentary Film
  • MACAU INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2023
    Macau
    Macao
    Official Selection
  • DJẬRFOGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2023
    Fogo
    Cape Verde
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • SARIMATA Cinema Culture
    Distributor
    Country: Indonesia
    Rights: All Rights, Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Theatrical, Video / Disc, Free TV, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
Director Biography - Farhan Siddiq

Born March 29, 2000, in Bukittinggi, she is an active student at Andalas University. Active in the art of recording media (photography and film) since 2018, he has produced three short films independently and get awards on a national scale. From 2021 until now, he has joined the Sarimata Cinema Culture community in Padang, Indonesia.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This documentary generally discusses the maximization of tourist destinations and the creative economy of Batang Harau which is still an area of the old city of Padang. by highlighting the art of Balanse Madam and cultural heritage buildings that have a fairly long historical relationship with the area.

By discussing the city of Padang Lama, we are discussing a model of a port city, because the early growth of the city during the Dutch East Indies started from the development of commercial activities on the west coast of the city. Seeing the arrival of Europeans to Padang as traders and the Nias tribe began to come as laborers, craftsmen, or thatched roof makers. Likewise, more and more Keling and Chinese people have come and settled in Padang since the Dutch took control of Padang. With various ethnic groups coming to the field, there was a process of cultural acculturation that gave birth to the balance madam dance from the people who live around the Batang Arau estuary. Their arrival to Padang increased after the VOC and the Dutch government made Padang the center of its economic and government activities. Precisely around the estuary area of the Batang Arau river which is upstream in the Bukit Barisan mountain area. Thus the Batang Arau estuary area is a silent witness that cannot be separated from the history of growth and development of the City of Padang Lama.