Experiencing Interruptions?

Marege: Awaiting Macassan

SYNOPSIS

There are many versions of the early interaction between the people of Makassar and the Youlngu (Aboriginal) North Australian community, the youlngu community believes that the relationship (trading and marrying the Makassar people) had begun around 1100-1600 A.D.

Husain Daeng Rangka (1836-1916) is a Makassar sailor whose name is recorded in the official biography of an important figure in Australian history. He was the seafarer who was carrying the last crew to sail from Makassar to Arnhem Land, northern Australia. Because after his sailing in 1906, the Australian government then stopped issuing permits for the Makassar sailors to enter the territory of North Australia.

The film tells the story of the Youlngu (Aborigines) standing along the coast of North Australia (Marege), waiting for the seafarers from Makassar, who have never visited their land since 1906.

They never knew what was going on, until the people of Makassar didn't come again. They were hoping that at least a ship belonging to the Makassar would come and say goodbye to them.

Even to this day, they're still waiting.

  • Ahmad Wildan Noumeiru
    Director
  • Ahmad Wildan Noumeiru
    Writer
  • Ahmad Wildan Noumeiru
    Producer
  • ESRA ENRICHO O HAYER
    Key Cast
    "Husen Dg rangka"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 4 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 10, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    12,678,905 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Indonesia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia, Indonesia
  • Language:
    English, Indonesian
  • Shooting Format:
    DCP
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Nobar " Australian Day
    Makassar
    Indonesia
    January 26, 2024
    Cinepolis Mall Phinisi Point
Director Biography - Ahmad Wildan Noumeiru

He started his film career in 2008 through several documentary film productions, and for two years actively conducted research and supporting the Bajo same tribe community in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi. Active in documentary film production requires me to master the technical skills (Pre-Production, Production, & Post-production) of the production phase of a film.
Five years in the capital of Jakarta learned a lot with the Sineas of Makassar who first plunged into the national film industry, twice recorded as the semifinalist of the Eagle Award Documentary Competition Metro TV in 2008 & 2011.
Co-Director on the wide-screen film “Fighting Fate” production 7 Heaven, 2017.
He is the producer of a theatre performance "Jejak Sawerigading" which is being staged in Ismail Marzuki Jakarta Park involving several film actors such as Teuku Rifnu Wikana and art academics from the Institut Kesenian Jakarta.
Director of Sky Project Official Founder Notes Our Foot YouTube Channel Receiver of FBK 2020 Performing Art Karaeng Naba (Assimilation of Sulawesi & Java) Receiving of the award of Mayor of Makassar in the field of Arts & Culture 2022, on the 415th anniversary of Makassar City
CONTACT ME
Initiating the formation of the SKY Project Official, a container for creative work, especially in the field of visual audio & Film, as well as Catatan Kaki Kita YouTube Channel, a historical and cultural video content, in South Sulawesi, Celebes Film Festival & Makassar Film Festival

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Director's Statement for Marege's film "Awaiting Macassan"
Marege “Awaiting Macassan” is the story of the long wait of the Youlngu (Aboriginal) people who stand along the coast of Arhem Land, Northern Australia. They were waiting for sailors (sea cucumber seekers) from Makassar.
History records that sailors from Makassar met and started contact with the Yolngu tribe at the end of the 17th century. The Yolngu people called the sailors from Makassar "Mangathara", while the sailors from Makassar called Arnhem Land "Marege".

The annual routine arrival of around two thousand people who make sea voyages in search of sea cucumbers suddenly stopped. The South Australian government's final decision to stop issuing entry permits to Makassar people was implemented in 1906, and these natives had to accept the fact that Makassar sailors would never come again.
Until now, they are still waiting and hoping that at least a ship (paddewakkang boat) will come to say goodbye to them.
Creative Vision
In Marege's film "Awaiting Macassan" I want to use historical information that it was not Europeans (Jamaes Cook) who first discovered the Australian continent, but sailors from Makassar. The film's visuals try to present the life of Makassar sailors on the Padewakkang boat across the vast ocean and how they interact with the Youlngu (Aboriginal) people.

Inspiration
My inspiration for this film was a childhood fairy tale about a Bugis Makassar ancestor who was an accomplished sailor. I was also inspired by adventure films about pirate stories and the lives of adventurers braving storms to discover new worlds.

Artistic Approach
This film will combine expository, observational documentary film styles within the main frame of a docudrama by showing scenes of several events that are considered to have dramatic elements.
Theme and Message
The main theme is "acculturation" between the Youlngu (aboriginal) community and the Makassar sailors. This film will tell the story of the initial arrival of Makassar sailors, establishing trade relations and even marriage between immigrants and natives. The message is that good relations and mutual respect between two different cultures will always be remembered. This collective memory is eternal and to this day is always missed, told and expressed in the form of artistic works of the Youlngu (aboriginal) people.

Characters and Story
The main character of this film is a figure named Husein Daeng Rangka (1845 - 1927), a sailor who was known as the last Makassar sea cucumber searcher in Australia. He was born in Makassar, South Sulawesi and was one of the first people to obtain a sea cucumber fishing license from the South Australian state government. The travel notes he wrote became a source for studying Makassar's relations with Australia. His name is also recorded in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
He retired in 1907 after his last visit to Australia and lived the rest of his life in Maloku Village, District. Tip of the view, Makassar.
Husein Daeng Rangka has several wives from Makassar and also from the Youlngu tribe, this communication between his two great-grandchildren (descendants of Makassar and Youlngu) is what then reunites 2 families from 2 continents that were separated for decades.