ACEH: BEYOND THE TSUNAMI explores the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in the worst effected region of Aceh, Indonesia where approximately 170,000 lives were lost.
The disaster was widely interpreted as a divine warning against immorality and a call to end decades of civil war. Overshadowed by accounts from other regions affected by the tsunami, the extraordinary impact on Aceh remains largely untold.
Through the vivid recollections of 10 Acehnese survivors, ACEH: BEYOND THE TSUNAMI explores processes of grieving, healing and rebuilding. The film sheds a unique light on how the Acehnese responded to their tremendous loss with a renewed religious devotion, becoming the only province in Indonesia to formally practice Shariah law.
Discover the incredible resilience of the Acehnese people as they reflect on the transformative force of the tsunami over the past decade, and convey the fascinating complexities of life today in a rapidly modernising yet deeply conservative region.