Giovanni Rustanto’s ‘A Ballad of Long Hair’ Sings Tune of Rock, Rebellion and Reconciliation – TCCF Project Pitch

Indonesias Giovanni Rustanto brings A Ballad of Long Hair to the 2023 Taiwan Creative Content Fest, its latest stop on a tour of project markets and labs.

Set in the 1990s, the project centers around an Indonesian-Chinese young man who inherits a magical trait from his witch mother his hair grows half a centimeter every night. Possessing mesmerizingly long hair and a unique talent for ethereal metal music, he stands up against oppressive forces and sparks a youth rebellion that challenges toxic masculinity and government corruption.

Inspiration for the project comes from Rustantos own childhood experiences, which included a struggle for identity as a Chinese minority in Indonesia, a turbulent political climate and a lack of parental love and support.

This movie is dedicated to those who have faced similar struggles. My mother used to cut my hair very short to go to school and even burn my CDs when she found out that I listened to metal music. My own style, music and preferences were ignored. I had no room to express my identity and no chance to be understood by my family, which resulted in a constant feeling of loneliness, said Rustanto.

Now in my forties, I realize this militaristic system is not over yet, even after the downfall of our dictatorship and the arrival of the New Order era. Many young people are still longing for freedom. This motivates me to reimagine my wasted youth as a canvas to express liberation, reconciliation, love and redemption.

The film will be produced by Sinema 5, a platform for emerging filmmakers in Indonesia, in co-production with Akanga Film Asia from Singapore. The project was launched last year through several film development labs such as the Jakarta Film Week Producers Lab, SGIFF Southeast Asian Film Lab, the place where Rustanto met Akangas Fran Borgia, and the Fullcicle Creative Producer Lab, where the project was named as the most promising project. It next participates at the mylab+Jogja lab later this month.

A Ballad of Long Hair is a very personal project that combines elements of fantasy, comedy, socio-political drama and magical realism with rock music, said Borgia. I felt very close to Rustantos sensitivities and motivations.

The project is budgeted at $1.1 million, of which $123,000 has been already secured.