Lagu Lagu

World Premiere

In 2021, it will be 70 years since Moluccan KNIL soldiers and their families were shipped to the Netherlands by boat. They were ordered by the Dutch government to await developments in the new state of Indonesia before returning to their beloved Moluccas. However, a return never materialised. Moluccan musician Piet Loppies, grandfather of Moluccan jazz and pop singer Jessica Manuputty, is one of the KNIL soldiers who arrived at Amsterdam’s Javakade on May 12 1951.

In honour of her ancestors and not to forget the injustice done to them, Jessica Manuputty throws herself into ‘lagu lagu’ in the year of remembrance. These traditional Moluccan folk songs are about nostalgia, nostalgia for the Moluccas and Ambon in particular. Jessica makes an effort to make the music sound traditional but still insists on adding her own ideas and those of her musicians. In this way, she and producer Jett Rebel make a unique record.

*Jessica Manuputty will be performing live with Nick Croes before the film on the 15th of April. After the screening director Joost Schrickx and protagonist Jessica Manuputty will participate in a Q&A. On the 22nd op April a Q&A will take place with Joost Schrickx and Jessica Manuputty as well. Both Q&A’s are moderated by Maaike Muis.