VIVAnews - The censorship over foreign movies in Indonesia has not only been imposed upon 'Balibo Five', which is directed by Robert Connolly.
In 2005, a controversial Australian movie, 'The Black Road', directed by William Nessen, which depicts the political tense which took place in the conflicting Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam had also subjected to a ban.
The movie took Aceh as its set between 2001 and 2003, portraying the struggle of the Free Acheh Movement (GAM) against the Indonesian military.
Nessen's first visit to Aceh was in 2001 as a journalist. It never crossed his mind that the footages he took for television network would someday be weaved into a movie.
VIVAnews revealed that 'The Black Road' was also banned from being screened at the Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest) in 2006.
Yet, 'The Black Road' was not the only prohibited movie as they were 'Passabe', 'Timor Loro Sae', and 'Tales of Crocodile'. The three last movies were about the turmoil in East Timor, then Timor Leste.
Titi Said, Chief of Indonesian censorship board the LSF, at that time argued that the movies on East Timor displayed violent acts and illustrated the brutality of the Indonesian troops.
On the other hand, 'The Black Road' was seen as anachronistic, for Aceh was entering peace chapter.
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Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
