Jakarta, 9 September – What happens when young people from adat communities tell their own stories through film? This is exactly what unfolds in Hutan, Mantan, Jalan Pulang (Forest, Heartbreak, and the Way Home) — a collaborative film premiered at Komunitas Salihara by Kemitraan, an implementing partner of the Australia–Indonesia Partnership Towards an Inclusive Society (INKLUSI).
More than just a visual work, this film provides a creative space where adat (customary law) youth express their concerns, hopes, and identities. Produced in collaboration with Tumbuh Sinema Rakyat and young people from Kasepuhan Pasir Eurih, Lebak, Banten, the 30-day production was filled with energy and active participation. The youth were not only actors but also scriptwriters, camera operators, and crew members across various technical divisions.
“This film was created together with young people in the Kasepuhan so they could tell stories about issues close to their daily lives. What matters is not only the finished film, but also the process of learning and gathering to talk about their own concerns,” said Okta Puspita Candra SA from Tumbuh Sinema Rakyat.
The screening of Hutan, Mantan, Jalan Pulang marked Kemitraan’s continued efforts to strengthen spaces for expression among adat youth, while demonstrating how art can bridge identity, tradition, and social movements.
For Siti Nurmakiyah, a member of Forum KAWAL, the experience offered a moment of empowerment. “Through this film, I was able to share my perspective, especially about women’s roles in the Kasepuhan. I’m proud that young people can show we’re capable of creating films that reflect our own lives,” she shared.
Hutan, Mantan, Jalan Pulang captures the realities familiar to many adat youth — limited access to employment, economic pressures, and the complexities of social and family relationships. Yet, beyond these challenges, it portrays their resilience and creativity in preserving cultural values while adapting to change.
The film’s distribution is designed to bring it back to its roots — screened in Kasepuhan villages and local public spaces. Communities have warmly welcomed it, expressing pride and inspiration in seeing their young people tell their own stories on screen. To reach wider audiences, Kemitraan is also working to bring the film to various discussion forums and public platforms, ensuring that the voices of adat youth are not only heard, but truly listened to.
With support from the INKLUSI Program, Kemitraan continues to promote art and film as tools for social advocacy — especially for groups whose stories are often overlooked.
“This film demonstrates that young people from adat communities have important voices that deserve to be meaningfully included. We believe that through the filmmaking process, their roles and confidence as the next generation in their communities have grown stronger, while also inspiring solidarity across generations,” said Yael Stefany, Communication Officer at Kemitraan, who supported the filmmaking process.
