THE CLEARING
Sabine Groenewegen • Netherlands, Indonesia • 2026 • 89 min.
SYNOPSIS
In the early 20th century Dutch colonial force turned Sumatran rainforest into vast rubber plantations. Men flocked from The Netherlands to the island to rule over contract workers under conditions akin to slavery. The open secret of women’s sexual indenture became a pilar of their machinery. A racial paradox hidden behind closed doors produced an unruly silence across generations. Attuned to ghosts of the unseen found and new footage embody the complex layers of recognition and resistance.
WORLD PREMIERE COMING SOON.
TRAILER
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
New Visions Award by FIPRESCI & LaScam
RIDM Montreal International Documentary Film Festival. Canada (2025)
CREW
DIRECTOR & SCREENWRITER
Sabine Groenewegen
PRODUCER
Manon Bovenkerk (near/by film)
CAMERA
Juan Palacios
Sabine Groenewegen
Jimged Sandy
EDITOR
Diana Toucedo
COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER
Malu Peeters
WORLD SALES & FESTIVALS
María Vera (Kino Rebelde)
