Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time

Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time/Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita  is an Indonesian investigative documentary directed by Dandhy Dwi Laksono and Cypri Paju Dale.

The film highlights the realities faced by Indigenous communities in South Papua who are under immense pressure due to the expansion of large-scale development projects, such as palm oil plantations, sugarcane plantations, and national food estate programs.

Using a documentary approach, the film shows how customary forests, which have long served as the source of life for local communities, are gradually being transformed into industrial zones. Audiences are invited to witness the conflict between economic development and the survival of Indigenous culture, identity, and living spaces in Papua.

The title Pig Feast itself is drawn from a Papuan traditional ceremony in which pigs hold deep social and cultural significance. In the film, this symbol is used as a metaphor to illustrate how environmental destruction affects not only nature, but also threatens the continuity of local cultural traditions and ways of life.

Overall, Pig Feast is not merely a documentary film, but also a critical reflection on issues of development, social justice, and power relations in Indonesia, particularly in Papua.

The screening of Pig Feast (c.100 minutes) at SOAS will be followed by a discussion.

Registration

This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Image credit: Pesta Babi / Jubi Media