Pesta Babi Screening Sparks Discussion and Audience Responses in Salatiga

A scene from Pesta Babi (Personal Documentation)

SALTIGA – The documentary film Pesta Babi was screened at Bina Dharma Hall in Salatiga on Wednesday (May 21) at 5 p.m. The event marked the second screening organized by Student Senate of Satya Wacana Christian University (SMU UKSW), followed by a two-hour open discussion addressing audience responses to the issues raised in the film.

According to the organizers, the event was held as a space for collective reflection on social life and development from various perspectives.

Pesta Babi portrays the situation faced by communities in Merauke, Papua, who have lost their homes and livelihoods due to large-scale exploitation. The documentary also presents forms of resistance carried out by Papuan communities and highlights the cultural significance of pig-raising traditions, which hold important value within local customs.

Audience members attend the screening of Pesta Babi (Personal Documentation)

The screening took place among growing public attention surrounding the documentary. Reports of previous screening cancellations in several locations, reportedly due to concerns that the film could shape negative public opinion toward certain parties, appeared to increase public interest in the event.

Around 100 people attended the screening, with many audience members coming from Papua. Bina Dharma Hall was fully occupied during the event.

The atmosphere during the screening felt intense and serious. Audience members remained focused throughout the film, including during a brief interruption in the screening.

Some audience arrived late due to a venue change and limited dissemination of information regarding the relocation.

The speakers: Kenneth Nathanael Timothy Punuh, Melkior NN Sitokdana, Roberto Duma Buladja, Izak Y.M. Lattu, and Hendrik Taplo as Moderator.

The discussion session featured five speakers who shared responses from their respective perspectives. One of them was Prof. Rev. Izak Y.M. Lattu, Ph.D., a lecturer from the Faculty of Theology at Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW), who connected the documentary to the book Tanah Tabu.

“Pigs are understood as family. In Papua, pigs are considered sacred. Something sacred and regarded as part of the family is sacrificed as the highest form of resistance.”

Audience members also shared their reactions following the discussion.

“The discussion made my head spin because I didn’t realize Indonesia could be that heartbreaking.” said Aya.

Aya, a 2022 Communication Studies student at UKSW, emphasized the importance of continuing to uphold respect and advocate for justice.

“We still have to fight for our freedom. The way to do it is by continuing to respect one another so we can give justice where justice cannot be obtained.”

Iben, a Psychology student at UKSW from the class of 2021. He was a Papuan audience who has personally participated in Pesta Babi traditions, pointed out differences between the ritual shown in the documentary and practices he has experienced.

“There are differences in the pig feast ritual, especially in how the pigs are slaughtered. In the film, only certain parts are shown, but in some traditions the pig is processed whole.”

Iben, also highlighted concerns regarding possible misunderstandings of the issues portrayed in the documentary.

“People who do not know about the situation there might think everything is fine and assume this film is merely a made-up story, even though it truly happened.”

A scene from Pesta Babi (Personal Documentation)

The discussion reflected various perspectives among participants and demonstrated how documentary screenings can encourage public reflection on social issues that often receive limited public attention.