The Last Trepangers
At a glance
Length
8 mins
Language Level
This film features mostly standard scripted Indonesian. The language is predominantly straightforward but occasionally features less common words and sophisticated structures. The information is dense but pausing the film will give time for students to reflect on content. This film is available with and without English subtitles.
Themes
Australia-Indonesia relations / Family / Neighbours / Water
This film is an animated story, narrated mostly in first person, about the “Macassan Trepangers” who sailed from South Sulawesi to the land they called Marege in Arnhem Land, to trade in sea cucumbers (trepang) before the Australian government stopped the trade in the early years of Federation.
The narrator, Hasni, explains how she listened to stories about Marege as a child and how she and her brother wanted to travel there. She also mentions how loved ones lost their lives during the perilous journey and how her older seafaring brother, Nurdin, might have succumbed to this fate. The story ends with the hope that Hasni and Hasan will be able to look for Nurdin in Marege some time in the future.
Characters
Hasni: the narrator who is a girl living in a settlement in Makassar.
Hasan: Hasni’s twin brother.
Nurdin: the older brother of Hasni and Hasan who is a trepang trader or trepanger.
Daeng Rangka: the captain of Nurdin’s boat.
Setting
A settlement in Marege, Arnhem Land, and a settlement in Macassar (now also known as Ujung Pandang, the capital of South Sulawesi).
Teaching Materials
Keywords
Australian history, Indonesian history, Macassan, perdagangan, trepang, YolnguReelOzInd! Australia Indonesia Short Film Competition and Festival seeks to raise awareness and improve understanding between the peoples of both countries.