The Clearing
2026, film, 89 min

During the colonial "rubber boom" in Sumatra, the sexual indenturement of women workers was an open secret suppressed until today. Found and new footage synthesize with sonic, narrative and visual fabulation in this essay of recognition and resistance. 

AWARDS
Best Film Human Rights Dox Competition Dokufest
FESTIVALS
FID Marseille International Competition (France)
Dokufest Human Rights Dox Competition (Kosovo)
Doclisboa New Visions (Portugal)
Archivio Aperto International Competition (Italy)
IDFA Best of Fest (Netherlands)
Festival Film Dokumenter International Competition (Indonesia)

REVIEWS

"A powerful investigation through cinema, with its material as a weapon against oblivion”  
—  Antonio Miguel Arenas
"Through meticulous investigation and artistry, the film exposes a profound historical injustice" 
— Jury Dokufest
Credits
writer/director     
Sabine Groenewegen
producer              
Manon Bovenkerk for near/by film 
Sabine Groenewegen for Rebel Research
editor                   
Diana Toucedo
composer            
Malu Peeters
camera               
Sabine Groenewegen,
Juan Palacios
Ary Jimged Sendy
sales agent         
Kino Rebelde
supported by       
Netherlands Film Fund, Amsterdam Art Fund, Cultuurfonds