The Sea Speaks His Name (2025)
A haunting Indonesian short film about an imprisoned activist reckoning with his choices, adapted from Leila S. Chudori's celebrated novel.
The Sea Speaks His Name - Movie Information
- Original Title: Laut Bercerita
- Release Year: 2025
- Directed by: Pritagita Arianegara
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 30m
- Original Language: Indonesian
- Spoken Languages: Indonesian
- Production Companies: Cineria Films
The Sea Speaks His Name - Plot
An imprisoned activist must face the consequences of his decisions. This short film serves as an introduction to Leila S. Chudori's book of the same title.
The Sea Speaks His Name - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and experience the film's charged atmosphere:
Die, you will die. But you will be reborn again and again.
The Sea Speaks His Name - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Pritagita Arianegara
Main Cast
- Reza Rahadian
- Ayushita Nugraha
- Dian Sastrowardoyo
- Tio Pakusadewo
- Alit Aryani Willems
- Tanta Ginting
- Haydar Salishz
- Ade Firman Hakim
- Lukman Sardi
- Adjie Nur Ahmad
Writers
- Leila S. Chudori
Producers
- Gita Fara
- Wisnu Darmawan
The Sea Speaks His Name - FAQs
Is The Sea Speaks His Name based on a true story?
The Sea Speaks His Name is not based on a single true story, but it draws on the real history of political repression in Indonesia during the 1990s. It adapts Leila S. Chudori's novel of the same name, which fictionalizes the experiences of student activists who were forcibly disappeared under the New Order regime.
What is The Sea Speaks His Name about?
The Sea Speaks His Name follows Laut, a young activist imprisoned for his political beliefs, as he confronts the full weight of the choices he has made. Serving as a cinematic introduction to Leila S. Chudori's celebrated novel, the short film explores themes of sacrifice, resistance, and the enduring cost of speaking truth to power.
What does the tagline mean in The Sea Speaks His Name?
The tagline — “Die, you will die. But you will be reborn again and again.” — encapsulates the film's central tension between mortality and legacy. It suggests that while activists like Laut may be silenced or destroyed, their ideas and sacrifices persist, echoing across generations and refusing to be extinguished by repression.
Who plays Laut in The Sea Speaks His Name?
Laut, the imprisoned activist at the heart of the story, is portrayed by Reza Rahadian, one of Indonesia's most acclaimed and versatile actors. The supporting cast includes Dian Sastrowardoyo as Anjani, Ayushita Nugraha as Asmara, and Tio Pakusadewo as Laut's father, among others.
Who directed The Sea Speaks His Name?
The Sea Speaks His Name was directed by Pritagita Arianegara. The screenplay was written by Leila S. Chudori, the author of the source novel, ensuring close fidelity to the original literary work's themes and emotional register.
Is The Sea Speaks His Name a short film or a feature?
The Sea Speaks His Name is a short film with a runtime of approximately 30 minutes. It was conceived as an introductory companion piece to Leila S. Chudori's novel of the same name, offering audiences a visual and emotional entry point into the book's world before engaging with the full literary work.
What language is The Sea Speaks His Name in?
The Sea Speaks His Name is an Indonesian-language film. Both the original and spoken language of the production are Indonesian, reflecting its origins as an adaptation of a landmark work of Indonesian literature by author Leila S. Chudori.
What are similar films to The Sea Speaks His Name?
Viewers drawn to The Sea Speaks His Name for its themes of political resistance and moral reckoning may also appreciate The Absent One (2014), a Scandinavian crime drama exploring institutional injustice, as well as other films that examine the human cost of political conflict and the resilience of those who resist authoritarian power.
More About The Sea Speaks His Name
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