Willingly or not, one must keep moving forward. Perhaps this line best illustrates how women who are already ensnared in this cycle must endure. Stigma and judgment have become inevitable, and their actions are constantly questioned. Yet, as voiced in the narration, they themselves often do not know what else they can do.
Whichever path they choose, it is deemed wrong. In such conditions, surrender seems the only option like being trapped in a cage. The difference is that their cage is a cycle with no end in sight. They are tossed about by curious eyes that dictate and condemn, without any sustained effort to listen, to understand, or to learn. What remains is a stigma that paints all their choices as mistakes.
The weight of this reality leaves them uncertain about where to turn. When they attempt to leave their confined zone, they are rejected and trampled upon. Yet, should not human beings strive to understand one another?
The Writer also felt entrapped by the sorrowful, aching narrative of this film. Reality often forces us to accept fleeting illusions acknowledging that not everyone around us is benevolent or just. Power too often lies with those who dominate. When one resists, one is crushed. And in that struggle, the oppressed are painted as the perpetrators.
Through Believing or Surviving, the director seeks to reveal an unseen reality in Cianjur, carried through the voice of Sarah as the central subject. Her testimony stirs sympathy and broadens awareness of the lived realities of women in confinement. Sarah is but one among millions who face such disorientation. The Writer hopes that this film sparks wider recognition of these truths, particularly for those who endure oppression in silence.
By Satya Din Muhammad
Editor Majesti Anisa
Translator Debytha Nela M. V.
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