A Distant Call
ABOUT
In the ancient Bugis way of life in Indonesia, gender non-binary ‘bissu' were once revered spiritual leaders. Eka, one of the last remaining bissu, decides to leave behind their identity, searching for belonging in a world that insists on definitions.
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Born into the Bugis community of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Eka has built a hardworking life as a wedding decorator and a beloved fixture of the village. Yet beneath Eka’s cheerful exterior lies a deeper search for meaning.
Among the Bugis, gender identity has long been seen as fluid. Eka once trained as a ‘bissu’ - the indigenous spiritual leader believed to embody both masculine and feminine souls.
But in a modern world that increasingly sees the bissu as relics of the past, Eka finds themselves torn between tradition, faith, and self. Eka makes a life-changing choice: to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a journey that would mean letting go of their gender-fluid identity, but would bring Eka great respect.
Through this journey, the film explores identity, spirituality, and the quiet courage it takes to find belonging in a world that insists on definitions.
Andrea Suwito is an independent documentary filmmaker from Semarang, Indonesia. Her first feature, A Distant Call (currently in post-production), is an awardee of the Documentary Association of Europe Award during Cannes Docs 2023 and recipient of PROCIREP Commission Télévision development fund, DMZ Docs development fund, and SGIFF SEADoc Production Fund. Her first short documentary premiered at Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival and internationally premiered at Doc Edge Festival. Andrea was a fellow of Scottish Documentary Institute: Connecting Stories 2021. She is currently an Erasmus+ scholar for the Doc Nomads program.
Finbar Somers is a filmmaker of English/Irish/Sri-Lankan descent based in Britain. He studied BSc Film and Television Production at the University of York, and currently resides in London working as a producer through his company Umbra Motion Picture Company Ltd. In addition to producing A Distant Call, Finbar is also producer of Sian Astor-Lewis’ narrative feature film To Nowhere, which had its theatrical release in June 2023.
Finbar Somers is a filmmaker of English/Irish/Sri-Lankan descent based in Britain. He studied BSc Film and Television Production at the University of York, and currently resides in London working as a producer through his company Umbra Motion Picture Company Ltd. In addition to producing A Distant Call, Finbar is also producer of Sian Astor-Lewis’ narrative feature film To Nowhere, which had its theatrical release in June 2023.