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China Benteng is a Chinese ethnic minority group in Tangerang, Indonesia, which has traditions that are still maintained and a life that is inversely proportional to the Indonesian people's paradigm of ethnic Chinese that living in luxury and physical appearance with white skin like most people of Chinese descent in Indonesia. If this paradigm is maintained, it will continue to produce horizontal riots and the Chinese in Indonesia will always be the scapegoats. But on the other hand, because the life of the Chinese Benteng ethnicity is exotic and different like other Chinese community in Indonesia, they always get a bad paradigm from other Chinese community groups. This film is a form of movement against these two paradigms, because actually humans have the same opportunity to strive to be better.

  • Jonatan Ardia
    Director
  • Rival Muhammad Pangersa Gunanagara
    Writer
  • Muhamad Hakim Putra Lesmana
    Producer
  • Eddy Prabowo Witanto
    Producer
  • Reni Edi Lim
    Key Cast
  • Adittia Irawan
    Direct of Photography
  • Octavianus Dimas Dwiraharja
    Sound Director
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Membelah Benteng
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Social, Culture, Humanity, Ethnic
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Indonesia
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    English, Indonesian
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
  • Apresiasi Film Jawa Barat
    Bandung, Jawa Barat
    Indonesia
    December 24, 2023
    West Java Premiere
    1st Documentary Winner
  • Student World Impact Film Festival
    Online
    United States
    June 25, 2023
    Semifinalist
  • Revolting Cinema Press
    Eindhoven
    Netherlands
    August 17, 2023
    Stroomhuis
    Official Selection
  • Sewonderlens
    Bantul DIY Yogyakarta
    Indonesia
    November 25, 2023
    International Premiere
    3rd Documentary Winner
  • Sugar Loaf Film Festival
    Chester, New York
    United States
    September 23, 2023
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Bandung International Film Festival
    Bandung
    Indonesia
    September 20, 2023
    Bandung Creative Hub
    Official Selection
  • Festival Film Tegal
    Tegal
    Indonesia
    October 7, 2023
    Pakembaran Village
    Official Selection
  • Festival Film Bogor
    Bogor, Jawa Barat
    Indonesia
    November 15, 2023
    Indonesia
    Official Selection
  • Parade Film MMTC
    Yogyakarta, DIY
    Indonesia
    March 8, 2024
    Indonesia Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Jonatan Ardia

Jonatan Ardia, is a filmmaker from the city of Tangerang and currently studying at Univeritas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung. I had been many times involved in filmmaking as a director and gaffer, and decided to make a documentary film because he believes it provides a room for the Cina Benteng to answer to the paradigm.

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Director Statement

The intention of the making of 'Membelah Benteng' is because the general paradigm of Indonesian locals towards the Chinese ethnic is that they are rich, luxurious, and living exclusively. Other than that there's also the paradigm from non Chinese towards them in the form of discrimination, which says that they are uneducated and not having a life goal. This movie serves as a room for the Cina Benteng to break those paradigms from the aspect of economy, social and cultural.