Max Havelaar is an idealistic yet naive Dutch colonial official in 19th century Indonesia who truly believes that he is going to civilize and improve the lives of the people under his administration. Unfortunately, he isn't really plugged into the local culture. Those directly oppressing the people are not so much the Dutch colonial officials as the venal and corrupt native rulers. At first, he is led to believe that his reformist ideas have the sanction of his superiors, but he runs into a stone wall and eventual abandonment and dismissal when he begins to threaten the vested interests of both the colonialists and the local sultan, who he eventually realizes are in cahoots with each other. His actions bring about a rebellion, for which he is blamed; resulting in even worse repression, and causing the breakup of his family and ostracism from his own society.
In most film and literature, defeated good guys at least get a pat on the back or some positive reinforcement from those they tried to help. Not so here. He ends up as an outcast reviled by both the oppressors he hoped to oust and the people he tried to liberate.
The film is a bit slow moving, disjointed, and overly long. I didn't really like it right after I saw it (over 20 years ago) but it grew on me quite a bit upon reflection. Definitely not for those already in a depressed state of mind or with suicidal ideation. It's stark message is that those willing to fight for unpopular causes had better be ready for more than death or disappointment and undertake their struggles as their own reward to their souls, since those you seek to help can turn on you as surely as your enemies.
In most film and literature, defeated good guys at least get a pat on the back or some positive reinforcement from those they tried to help. Not so here. He ends up as an outcast reviled by both the oppressors he hoped to oust and the people he tried to liberate.
The film is a bit slow moving, disjointed, and overly long. I didn't really like it right after I saw it (over 20 years ago) but it grew on me quite a bit upon reflection. Definitely not for those already in a depressed state of mind or with suicidal ideation. It's stark message is that those willing to fight for unpopular causes had better be ready for more than death or disappointment and undertake their struggles as their own reward to their souls, since those you seek to help can turn on you as surely as your enemies.