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Die Before Blossom

A film by Ariani Djalal

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Almost 70 years after independence and 10 years after the installation of the first democratically elected president, the educational system in Indonesia is increasingly being influenced by Islamic values. This observational documentary follows two girls and their families during a crucial period in their school careers: their last year at public elementary school in the city of Jogyakarta in central Java.

film still

Kiki and Dila are modern city girls from a middle-class background: they like to listen to pop music, are very interested in their appearance and giggle about girl stuff. At school, all the children wear uniforms, everyone prays together, the national anthem is sung and the girls learn how to behave now that they are approaching puberty. Although Islam isn't a state religion, its influence on the once secular school system is growing. The educational system is underpinned by three moral principles: piety, patriotism and discipline.

The strictness of the school regime doesn't seem so bad—for example, Kiki is able to talk her way out of studying the Koran. But once the final exams start to loom, things suddenly get very serious, both for the girls and for their parents. A lot is riding on their exam results, for the popular schools in the city only take those children who get the highest scores.

International Premiere, 2014 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
World Premiere, 2014 Chopshoot Film Festival Indonesia
Asian Premiere, 2014 DMZ Film Festival South Korea
Silver Award, 2014 Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival
FestivalFilm Purbalingga
ScreenDocs Traveling Film Festival
Yogyakarta Documentary Film Festival

89 minutes / Color
English subtitles
Release: 2016
Copyright: 2014

For colleges, universities, government agencies, hospitals and corporations

This DVD is sold with a license for institutional use and Public Performance rights.

Subject areas:
Adolescence, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Education, Indonesia, Islam, Religion, Sociology, Southeast Asia, Women's Studies

Watch the trailer:

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