Acung Memilih Bersuara

A rare look inside Indonesian Islamic boarding schools, showcasing a centuries-old educational system that fosters character, compassion, and respect in the face of rising extremism.

Silenced for more than 50 years, a group of elderly women in Indonesia decided to share the country’s forgotten history to the young generation through singing. The women formed a choir group that sings songs written inside prisons by those who were arrested and sentenced for years without any single trial. The singing and sharing has helped them heal their trauma as well as connecting them with an eager young audience.

When I was little, I had a dream that scared me very much. I went home, but no one recognized me. When I grew up, my dream changed. I chase my dreams, sometimes without knowing where they are taking me. This is a film about where I came from, where dreams are forgotten and love is never spoken.

Martha is the daughter-in-law of MD Raya. Her Husband is the first son of MD Raya's twelfth wife. When Adi, Martha's husband, was studying at the University in Malang, Martha worked for MD Raya while waiting for her husband to come home. In the meantime, MD Raya is waiting for Adi to graduate with hope that he can get back his family's pride that was lost since he's not the head of the village anymore.