Merdeka 17805 (2000)

Merdeka 17805 (ムルデカ 17805, Murudeka 17805) is a 2001 Japanese war film by Yukio Fuji which depicts a Japanese soldier who arrives in the Dutch East Indies during the occupation and stays to fight in the Indonesian National Revolution. The film emphasised the Empire of Japan's role in Indonesia's independence, leading several writers to describe it as propaganda. It was also controversial in Indonesia owing to concerns of historical revisionism, because Japan's occupation of the area is depicted as the Empire protecting it from Western aggression. The film was a financial success in Japan.

Synopsis

In early 1942, the army of the Empire of Japan occupies the Dutch East Indies and overthrows its Dutch colonial leaders. During a visit to a Javanese village, Captain Takeo Shimazaki (Jundai Yamada) and his translator Yamana (Naomasa Musaka) are told that their arrival was predicted by King Jayabaya centuries before. Touched by this pronouncement, Shimazaki promises to free the archipelago from colonialism. Later, he is assigned to sneak into the last Dutch stronghold in Bandung and negotiate the unconditional surrender of the Dutch Army, a mission he completes successfully.

Actors