Redifining Nusantara through Indonesian Film: Tradition, Nationalism, and Popular Culture

Indonesian films featuring traditional values, nationalism, and the appeal of Nusantara affect the social order in the society. Some films showing the natural and cultural beauty of Indonesia indirectly attract some members of the society, both local and foreign, to visit the area. For example, the Belitung region has become a new tourist destination since the launching of Laskar Pelangi. People's consumption of travelling to trend destinations is one of their arenas or fields to 'struggle' into a certain social strata. Since 2000s and up (after the reform era), the societal trend of travelling started to increase. The scope of this study is limited on eleven films published after the reform era. Thus, this paper will present the images of Nusantara in some Indonesian films that critically affect the social arena of those film lovers.