Soegija - The Monsignor

Recently the news came in Blackberry Messenger (BBM) about boycott the SOEGIJA movie that are thought to affect one's faith. Responding to it, Puskat Pictures asserted that the news was just a rumor because SOEGIJA is about humanity and not of a particular religious doctrine. It adapted from the diary of a national hero and the first indigenous bishop in Indonesia named Msgr. Albertus Soegijapranata. However, this film which produced by famous director, Garin Nugroho, is not a biopic but a vision and reflection of humanity that occur in the years 1940 to 1949.

We know Moh. Hatta, Jend. Soedirman, Sutan Sjahrir, K.H.Ahmad Dahlan and others as national heroes. Though Indonesia has been a long time ago from various ethnic, racial, religious, and cultural united together in the fight for independence.

Msgr. Albertus Soegijapranata (Nirwan Dewanto) in Sogejia movie (2012)

Soegija, one of the national hero who was appointed by Soekarno, as the first native bishop who tried to play a role at all levels so that the Vatican be the first to recognize the independence of Indonesia. All his efforts to alleviate the burden of Indonesian in the midst of chaos war.

This film was picked up the universal humanitarian aspects rather than emphasize the aspects of religion, just like the trilogy: Merah Putih (2009); Darah Garuda (2010); and Hati Merdeka (2011), Sang Pencerah (it's about Muhammadiyah founder, K.H.Ahmad Dahlan) (2010), Gie (2005), Nagabonar Jadi 2, and other nationalism movies.

Press Conference: Garin Nugroho, Nirwan Dewanto, Olga Lydia, Henky Solaiman

I wanna straighten out that Soegija movie is not a religion movie but nationalism. Any religion should really watch it, and I think personally, you have to watch this if you are fans of nationalism and documentary films. I am a Christian and I watched Sang Pencerah movie which I think it is a good nationalism movie. And I can't wait to watch this movie!