The Unknown Prologue

Jae is a young man from Papua who has never been very close to his father and grandmother. He recently discovered that his grandfather is from Java and left them without a trace or any news shortly after his father was born. Filled with questions, Jae decides to embark on a quest to find his grandfather.

SYNOPSIS

Jae’s relationship with his father and grandmother has always felt awkward, lacking moments of shared stories or heartfelt conversations. He realizes that his understanding of them is limited to the basic relationships of child and parent, and grandchild and grandmother, without knowing who they truly are on a deeper level. When he tries to get closer, Jae discovers a shocking fact: his grandfather is of Javanese descent, and his name has never appeared in the official documents used by his father and grandmother.

The story of Grandpa and Grandma’s past is quite brief, with Grandma recalling how it all began during the Malaria Eradication Command Operations in 1965 in Kaimana, West Papua. At that time, tensions between Papua and Indonesia further complicated their relationship. A stigma developed among the elders of Kaimana, suggesting that Javanese men who married Papuan women and took them to their hometowns would abandon them, neglect them, and possibly even endanger their lives. This led to an unhappy ending for Grandpa and Grandma’s relationship.

After hearing the story from Grandma, Jae confirmed it with his father and asked how he felt about the events. Listening to his father’s account, Jae began to question his own identity and what had happened to his family. His curiosity and desire to learn more about his grandfather ultimately drove Jae to decide to search for and meet him. After discussing it with his father and grandmother, they provided the last piece of information: Grandpa was in Jakarta. This search would lead Jae into a space of contemplation and self-reflection, towards understanding, meaning, and an unknown conclusion.

Jae’s return from his long search is expected to ease the awkwardness he still feels in his relationship with his father and grandmother. It should help him become more accepting and gain a deeper understanding, not only of his grandfather but also of his family as a whole.

It took me 24 years to realise how important family is. This intimacy led me to learn the true story between my grandparents and Bapak (father, ed), their only child. Unlike me, who used to be apathetic towards family, Bapak is a person who loves and cares for his family. It was Bapak who kept the family ties between Papua and Wonosobo alive by going to see Grandpa Dumar when he was still studying in Surabaya. The family relationship has been preserved until now, which motivated me to succeed Bapak in going to see Grandpa Purwoto, whose whereabouts have never been known until now.

I wanted to know the story of my grandfather and grandmother from his perspective, to see what my grandfather was like and to ask him why he never contacted my grandmother and father after he left Papua. Aside from personal reasons, this film is here to remind us where we were born and what our family tree looks like, which is starting to be forgotten by today’s generations. No matter how far we go, family is the home we will return to.