“The Siege at Bukit Duri”: A Stark Portrait of an Unchanged Indonesia

Renowned director and screenwriter Joko Anwar returns to the spotlight with his latest film, The Siege at Bukit Duri (original title: Pengepungan di Bukit Duri). The film presents a raw and urgent depiction of persistent societal issues in Indonesia—from violence and corruption to the persistent failures of the education system.

According to Anwar, the screenplay for The Siege at Bukit Duri was completed as early as 2007. At the time, he still held on to the hope that Indonesia’s condition would gradually improve. But nearly two decades later, many of the same social issues—such as school violence, systemic discrimination, and educational inequality—remain unresolved.

“Seventeen years have passed, and yet the anxiety lingers. That’s why we decided this was the right time to bring the story to life,” Joko Anwar said during a press conference held at Epicentrum XXI, Jakarta, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

Blending elements of drama and thriller, the film follows the emotional and harrowing journey of Edwin (played by Morgan Oey), a Chinese-Indonesian man still haunted by the trauma of the 2009 riots. Years later, Edwin works as a teacher at Duri High School, a troubled institution filled with delinquent students.

Driven by a promise he once made to his late brother to find a missing nephew, Edwin instead finds himself trapped in a school that becomes a battleground. Alongside fellow teachers and students—Diana (Hana Pitrashata Malasan), Kristo (Endy Arfian), and Rangga (Fatih Unru)—Edwin is forced to survive a violent siege led by a dangerous student named Jefri (Omara Esteghlal), whose group poses a deadly threat.

The film escalates with high tension as the group desperately fights to escape the school, painting a dystopian version of Indonesia in 2027—where racial hatred and deep-rooted discrimination spark chaos and fear.

Tia Hasibuan, co-producer from Come and See Pictures, emphasized that the film is more than just a commentary on past trauma or current unrest—it serves as a chilling look at what the future could hold.

“History has a way of repeating itself if we’re not careful—if we refuse to acknowledge, discuss, or attempt to heal the wounds of the past,” said Hasibuan. “Though the story is set in 2027, it acts as a stark warning. That year is not as far off as we might think.”

The film features a powerful cast of rising Indonesian talents, including Morgan Oey, Omara Esteghlal, Hana Malasan, Endy Arfian, Fatih Unru, and Satine Zaneta. Supporting roles are played by Dewa Dayana, Florian Rutters, Faris Fadjar Munggaran, Sandy Pradana, Farandika, Raihan Khan, Sheila Kusnadi, Millo Taslim, and Bima Azriel.