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I have to be honest – prior to watching Red And White I knew absolutely nothing of the 1947 uprising by the Indonesian people during the Dutch occupation of the country following World War II. Titled ‘Merah Putih’ in its native language, director Yadi Sugandi’s film, released on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK today, is the first part of a proposed trilogy set during this period.

Two days after the Japanese surrender in August 1945, the Republic of Indonesia declared independence following three and a half years of Japanese occupation. Soon after, the newly founded Republic was invaded by the Dutch, themselves newly liberated from the Nazis. Within two years more than 100,000 Dutch soldiers held Indonesia’s ports, cities and coastlines, all that remained was the mountain and jungle terrain where a rebel army of guerrilla fighters growing in numbers was preparing to fight for “Freedom or Death” until their nation could become independent once again.