Although I am ethnically Indonesian Chinese, I grew up far from Indonesia and have always felt like an outsider to the culture that was supposed to be mine. This summer I finally returned and realized how little I actually knew about the country beyond what I had read online. Drawn by curiosity, I decided to visit the Inner Baduy Tribe—often portrayed as isolated, anti-technology, and resistant to modern education.

But once I entered their world, I found something completely different. The Inner Baduy live by deep spiritual discipline and an enduring reverence for nature. Yet, beyond the forest boundaries, the so-called “Outer Baduy” are already engaging with mobile phones, solar energy, and the internet. What I once imagined as rejection now looked more like balance—a careful negotiation between tradition and modernity.

Through personal reflection and intimate encounters, this documentary traces my journey from misunderstanding to connection. It’s not simply about uncovering who the Baduy people are, but about questioning how we define progress, knowledge, and belonging in a world that constantly redraws its borders.

Directed by Maxwell Wijaya (Indonesia)