In the 1960s, the former Dutch colony of West Papua (Dutch New Guinea) was on the path to independence. But international interests, geopolitical power dynamics, and economic motives decided otherwise. Using unique and innovatively restored archival material, The Promise brings history to life and reveals how an entire people continue to suffer to this day. While the Netherlands prepared for the independence of Dutch New Guinea, Indonesia resisted, leading to an armed conflict with the former colonizer. Under pressure from the United States and the United Nations, the territory was transferred to Indonesia in 1962 without consulting the Papuan population. In the so-called Act of Free Choice, the Papuans were promised a referendum to determine their own future, but this turned out to be a sham. Since then, Papuans in Indonesia have been systematically persecuted, oppressed, and killed in what is one of the most neglected genocides in the world. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Promise masterfully shows how the future of West Papua was shaped not only on the political stage but also in diplomatic backrooms and by powerful companies that prioritized economic interests over human rights. To this day, vast amounts of natural resources from West Papua are exported by international companies. With compelling stories of Papuans in exile and their struggle for recognition, director Daan Veldhuizen paints a painful picture of how colonialism gave way to neocolonialism — and how the world remained silent.

Content warning: violence