Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual violence, trauma, and its psychological impact.
When a film tells a story about trauma, returning home, social rejection, and the struggle to reclaim one’s life, the experience of watching it can be different for every audience member.
For survivors of sexual violence, those themes can carry an additional layer.
Empat Musim Pertiwi, directed by Kamila Andini and produced by Ifa Isfansyah, has been selected as Indonesia’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, or Oscars 2027. The film stars Putri Marino, Arya Saloka, Christine Hakim, and Hana Malasan. It premiered internationally at the Toronto International Film Festival 2026 before its Indonesian theatrical release.
At the center of the story is Pertiwi, a woman who returns to her hometown after spending years in prison. Her return does not bring the welcome she might have expected. Instead, she faces rejection from the people around her, forcing her to confront a painful past.
For viewers who have experienced sexual violence, the story can raise a difficult but important question:
What happens when society remembers a survivor only through their trauma?
When a Survivor Returns to a Place That No Longer Feels Safe
Trauma does not necessarily disappear when the event itself is over.
For some survivors, memories can affect their relationship with people, places, relationships, and even their own bodies.
A place that once felt like home may no longer feel safe.
A familiar person may become a source of fear.
And returning to a community can mean confronting not only personal memories but also the judgments of other people.
This is one of the reasons Empat Musim Pertiwi can be read through the perspective of survivors.
Pertiwi’s return is not simply about going home.
It is also about confronting a past that has shaped how others see her.
The Problem With Seeing Survivors Only Through What Happened to Them
Society often expects survivors to behave in a particular way and sometimes, they are expected to prove that they deserve to be believed.
These expectations can create another form of pressure.
A survivor is not defined only by what happened to them.
They remain a person with dreams, relationships, ambitions, mistakes, strengths, and the right to build a future.
This distinction is important when discussing stories involving trauma.
The question should not always be, “Why did this happen to her?”
Sometimes the more important question is:
“What happened after that, and how did society treat her?”
Sexual Violence Is Also About Power and Control
Discussions about sexual violence often focus heavily on the physical act itself.
But sexual violence can also involve power, control, intimidation, coercion, and the loss of bodily autonomy.
That is why conversations about consent and boundaries are important, especially for younger audiences.
Consent is not simply the absence of a “no.”
It needs to be freely given, informed, and respected.
Someone being silent does not automatically mean consent.
Someone freezing does not mean consent.
Someone being afraid does not mean consent.
And surviving a dangerous situation in whatever way was possible does not make the survivor responsible for the violence.
“Why Didn’t You Fight Back?” Is the Wrong Question
One of the most damaging myths surrounding sexual violence is the assumption that survivors must physically resist.
Human responses to danger are not identical.
Some people fight, some run,some freeze,some comply because they are trying to survive.
These responses are not invitations to blame the person who experienced violence.
This is particularly important for young audiences who may encounter stories about sexual violence through films, social media, or news reports.
Understanding trauma means understanding that survival does not always look heroic.
Sometimes survival simply means getting through the moment.
When the Community Becomes Part of the Problem
Another important issue is how communities respond after violence occurs.
A survivor may already be dealing with fear, shame, confusion, anger, or trauma.
Then comes another layer:
What will people say about me? Will they believe me? Will they blame me? Will they gossip? Will they share my story? Will they treat me differently?
This is where communities have a responsibility.
Supporting a survivor does not mean demanding details.
It does not mean investigating the survivor yourself.
It does not mean sharing their story online.
And it certainly does not mean asking questions that imply the survivor caused their own trauma.
Sometimes support starts with something much simpler:
“I believe you.”
“This was not your fault.”
“You are not alone.”
“What do you need right now?”
Sometimes, giving someone a voice means creating enough safety for them to decide whether, when, and how they want to speak.
