THEY CALL ME BABU is a film about native Indonesian girls working as nannies (pembantu) for the colonial Dutch in a rapidly changing world in the 1940s against the backdrop of WWII and the struggle for independence in Indonesia. The film is told from the perspective of Alima and begins with her decision to flee from an arranged marriage to work as a pembantu for a Dutch family. Through all her new impressions and thoughts, she looks critically at colonial society and her own position. The film is told through the use of archive footage.

Direction: Sandra Beerends

Script: Sandra Beerends

Production: Pieter van Huijstee

Editing: Ruben van der Hammen

Sound: Mark Glynne, Tom Bijnen

Original Score: Alex Simu

Cast: Denise Aznam

Original Title: ZE NOEMEN ME BABOE

Original Language: Indonesian

Film Production Country: Netherlands

Website: theycallmebabu.com

Biography of the Director/s
Sandra Beerends is a script editor/creative producer and writer/director who runs her own company, Beruang and works for the dramadepartment of the Dutch broadcaster NTR. She has been on the juries of Prix Europa, Prix Jeunesse, Cinedans, Klik! and IFFR. Her work includes, but is not restricted to, the script-editing of KAUWBOY (European Film Award 2012), the series DUNYA & DESIE (Emmy nominations 2002/2004) and POLSKA WARRIOR (Grand Prix Dutch Animation HAFF 2017) and IN BLUE (best script. Best film NFF 2019).

She wrote and produced the short ARIGATO (audience award Film by the sea 2012) about the Dutch Indonesian war trauma. Her first documentary THEY CALL ME BABU premiered successfully at IDFA, was among the audience favourites and received the Crystal prize for selling more than 10,000 tickets in its initial theatrical run. At the same time the film is travelling the international festival circuit and was called ‘the Indonesian version of ROMA’ in the Sydney morning Herald.

Awards Won
Selection Europe! Voices of women 2020
Selection Sydney Filmfestival 2020
Selection New Zealand Filmfestival 2020
Selection Thessaloniki Filmfestival 2020
Nomination best Documentary Golden Calf competition /October 2020
Nomination best film Forum for Dutch Directors /October 2020
Nomination best use of archival footage in Cinematic feature Focal awards/October 2020
Nomination best use of archival footage in History feature Focal awards/October 2020
Nomination Best Newcomer Makedox 2020
Nomination Best Director Dutch Documentary DDG 2020
Nomination best Documentary International competion FIPA 2020
Nomination best Dutch Documentary IDFA 2019
Nomination best use of archive IDFA 2019
Chrystal award Dutch Film festival 2020
Buma Award for best music 2020
Audience award IFA 2020
Best Documentary award Dokfest Horizonte 2020

Production Company:
Pieter van Huystee Film
Rudolf Kats
Donker Curtiusstraat 125
Amsterdam, 1051MC, Netherlands
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 20 42 10 606

World Sales:
Pieter van Huystee Film
Jan Rofekampt
Donker Curtiusstraat 125
Amsterdam, 1051MC, Netherlands
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 20 42 10 606

Press:
Pieter van Huystee Film
Rudolf Kats
Donker Curtiusstraat 125
Amsterdam, 1051MC, Netherlands
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 20 42 10 606