ROOTS in Motion #6

• Date: 13 August
• Time: 20:00
• Location: Filmhuis Den Haag

In addition to the annual ROOTS Film Festival, we are expanding our activities with ROOTS in Motion—an ongoing platform for film screenings, in-depth conversations, Q&As, and valuable networking opportunities.

This August, we are joining forces with Jong 1508, the youth working group of the National Commemoration Foundation of August 15, 1945. Jong 1508 is committed to telling the stories of the generations before us and breaking the silence around war-related trauma. They do so in an inclusive way, with attention to different perspectives—telling the story of our shared history with respect for the diversity of experiences.

This collaboration is part of the commemoration of the end of World War II in the former Dutch East Indies. On August 15, we remember all victims of the Japanese occupation in Southeast Asia and its painful aftermath—a history that continues to echo into the present. Not only due to the arrival of thousands of Indo-Europeans in the Netherlands, but also because of the subsequent struggle for independence.

For this special edition of ROOTS in Motion, we are working with Jong 1508 to seek out short films that explore this complex and emotionally layered theme. We are particularly interested in filmmakers whose backgrounds resonate with this commemoration—those who recognize themselves in this story and wish to reflect on this history from their own perspective. We welcome films that create space for personal narratives, collective memory, discomfort, and connection.

From the submissions, we will curate a selection to be screened during a special film night. After the screenings, we will engage in Q&As with the filmmakers—creating space for deeper reflection, dialogue, and new perspectives.

SELECTED FOR THIS EDITION:

Wayang (Ross Walker): Nearly 35 years later, in 1980, Ron is now a father himself. Although he grew up in the Netherlands, he struggles with the same demons. As he cares for the now elderly Novan and raises his own young daughter, Lucy, he comes to see that the scars of a fractured identity are not easily erased. The traditional wayang (shadow puppet) performance connects these three generations and helps give voice to unspoken trauma.

Heroes' Day (Miron Ashkenazy): This documentary explores a spectacular rescue operation on November 10, 1945, in Surabaya, in which 3,500 hostages were freed at the start of the Indonesian Revolution. Driven by family legacy and years of research, the story uncovers the forgotten role of great-uncle Jack Boer, the Gurkhas, and the ongoing fight for recognition.

Also screening during ROOTS in Motion #6 is a film selected by Jong 1508:

De Vergeten Nederlander – Joris Drachman:
A passion project about “Grandma” Jane, who was left stateless in Java after the repatriation from the Dutch East Indies.

Please note: De Vergeten Nederlander is not eligible for the ROOTS in Motion Audience Awards.

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