APM - Asian Project Market

2023 Project

Logline

A gay, Syrian refugee, Tarqam (male, 19), fleeing from the turmoil of his country, ends up in Indonesia. He disguises his sexual orientation by playing soccer, but is handicapped by local regulations. Along the way, he finds a new meaning of home.

Synopsis

Tarqam, a 19-year-old, Syrian refugee, pursues his dreams of finding a new home where people will embrace his identity as a homosexual. However, en route to Australia, he is stranded in Indonesia.
Tarqam′s life changes when he gains access to high-speed internet and starts watching gay porn. However, suspicion starts to grow in the surrounding community.
Therefore, soccer becomes Tarqam’s hideaway; a sport perceived as masculine by the locals and refugees alike. He develops a sense of belonging and camaraderie, especially with his teammate, Agus, a local of his age studying in Pesantren (a traditional Islamic boarding school). Their relationship blossoms as they share their stories and experiences, both longing for home.
Tarqam becomes obsessed with the idea of winning the local soccer league. However, he needs a domicile letter confirming his residential status before he can join the local team. Tarqam is faced with strict bureaucracy, language barriers, and prejudice.
Finally, Tarqam obtains his domicile letter. However, an unexpected opportunity arises for a potential placement in Australia. Driven by loyalty and a sense of responsibility, Tarqam decides to play in the final, jeopardizing his chances of leaving Indonesia. As the match unfolds, Tarqam pours his heart into playing, realizing that he has developed a deep connection with soccer as a means of self-expression.
After a triumphant victory, Tarqam questions his decision to prioritize his sense of belonging over his future. However, Tarqam is reassured by the presence of Agus that he has found a place to call home.

Director's Statement

Tarkam is a stranger-in-a-strange-land story, highlighting the despair of refugees in transitory countries; a young man miles away from home, experiencing the prejudice of the locals and keeping his sexuality a secret. It is a complex exploration of the human heart. The contrast we are trying to create between the protagonist and his love interest will create a heartbreaking drama that will absorb the audience in the film. Visually, I want to explore shooting in 35mm because this story’s visual language requires specific textures.
Through Tarkam, the audience will witness the everyday life of an immigrant, who gains happiness from playing soccer, and falls in love with a local along the way. Stuck in a Muslim country, a young man losing his identity, closeted, and repressed beneath toxic masculinity, is a heavy matter of the human heart, and a point of view I would like to explore. It is a strong drama that delves deep into themes of love, alienation, and the simple happiness to be found in soccer.

Producer's Statement

I believe that Tarkam will contribute to Indonesian cinema through its deep exploration of the human condition. The film creates a situation of alienation in a strange land, a topic which is close to many, inviting the audience to find their true identity, despite radical religious beliefs and threatening political situations. There are many layers to be discovered; an emotional self-exploration, the longing for love, tackling both the internal and external conflicts of toxic masculinity, and questions of morality.
Moreover, a feature film presented from the perspective of an immigrant is something new for Indonesian cinema, capturing the extremes of those living under circumstances controlled by political power, and with limited access to basic human rights, such as employment, marriage, and education. There are many complex layers of drama, love, and humanity to be explored through the craftsmanship of Teddy Soeriaatmadja and the burning passion for screenwriting of Baskoro Adi Wuryanto.

Director's Profile

Producer's Profile