A Punk Daydream — A Captivating Documentary on Indonesian Punks

In the groundbreaking documentary “A Punk Daydream,” we plunge into the raw undercurrent of Jakarta, Indonesia’s young punk population. Removed from the lush, cushioned retreats of tourist-favoured Bali, we are brought face to face with the gritty despot-driven reality of post-Suharto life, a time riddled with corruption, environmental decay, and harsh poverty. This tale puts the spotlight on those youths, living on the fringes of their society, their families and their beloved homeland.

Their crime? Tattoos.

Tattoos, seen by mainstream Indonesian society as an intimidating insignia of criminals, often inked behind bars to instill fear, are etched on their faces. “They’re to scare people,” explains one patriarch. Consequently, these young men are dismissed from job opportunities, their facial tattoos both embodying and emphasizing their estrangement from the society they once belonged to. The film doesn’t shy away from the profound implications these tattoos bear on their lives, as they wander the streets, ukuleles in tow, creating punk protest songs every bit as acerbic as their 1970s-80s forebears.

A sense of camaraderie is evoked between the punks and the indigenous Dayak people, renowned for their traditional tattoo artistry. The Dayak are stubbornly hanging on to their rich, centuries-old traditions, cognizant that the encroaching future may spell an end to their culture and their lush rainforest home. This empathetic bond forms the heart of “A Punk Daydream,” a tale of the struggle to hold on to one’s identity in an unforgiving world.

“A Punk Daydream” wades into the distinctive undertow of Indonesian punk culture, through the lens of its most marginalized classes. This film captures the existential journey of Eka, a street punk thirsting for personal freedom, the embodiment of punk’s counter-cultural spirit. The narrative, however, isn’t solely confined to the subterranean punk milieu. It extends to offer a panoramic view of the socio-political landscape that engulfs the wider Indonesian society, seen through their rebellious streak. The punks and the indigenous aren’t just passive observers; their persistent acts of defiance serve as catalysts for an enduring socio-political and ecological transformation in Indonesia.

This is not just a story of survival against the odds but an audacious proclamation of hope, sowing the seeds for possible change in the fabric of a society deeply rooted in tradition. In “A Punk Daydream,” the struggle for identity and freedom, of Eka and his ilk, becomes a potent symbol of resistance, a beacon illuminating the path to revolution and reform.

The filmmakers ingeniously intertwine documentary, video art and photography with fairy-tale traditions and contemporary reality. Eka hopes to reconnect to society by acting out his own story in the film. Through the seasoned and artful lens of Jimmy Hendrickx, the film skillfully stitches together an intricate tapestry of personal struggles, the transcendent beauty of Indonesia’s landscapes, and the impassioned voices of its punks and indigenous people.

Hendrickx, steeped in the realms of video art and experimental cinema, navigates the visual narrative with an innovative touch. His extensive background allows him to venture beyond conventional filmmaking, introducing a layered exploration of different visual mediums. His unorthodox approach transforms “A Punk Daydream” into a compelling cinematic work.

After A Punk Daydream, other projects came naturally, such as Savior of the Kaja-Kaja (2019) and Slave Island (2024), which is scheduled to premiere next year.

Having great cultural and political relevance, the documentary was well received in major film festivals such as IFFR – International Film Festival Rotterdam and Hot Docs – International Competition.

The documentary is available to rent below. Its masterful storytelling is absolutely spellbinding. It’s an unflinching gaze at the relentless march of “progress,” an insatiable beast devouring the sanctity of indigenous culture and the plucky – if exhausted – resilience against the grueling poverty that persistently erodes the struggling margins of society.

Your heart will break for all the Ekas in the world, today and yesterday – and remember the purpose behind punk music.