Sandra Beerends

Alima tells her story, which plays out against the backdrop of World War II and the struggle for indepence, over unique footage from various archives.

Alima worked for a Dutch family as their babu—nanny—in the former Dutch East Indies. She tells her story of how she came to work for the family, taking care of their baby Jantje. She accompanies them for a short stay in the Netherlands. Upon her return, she lives through the Japanese occupation and the battle for Indonesia’s independence. Throughout these years, Alima is loyal to the child, but at the same time she’s loyal to her lover Riboet, who is an independence fighter.