A Distant Call

The Bugis, the largest ethnic group in South Sulawesi, recognise five genders. The fifth is the 'bissu', who transcend distinctions between male and female and hold a special place in society and religion. For Eka, one of the last remaining, the time has come for the trip they have been waiting for all their life: the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The ritual will force them to temporarily conform to gender norms, in exchange for the respect of they own society, at a time when Indonesia is experiencing a resurgence of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. The documentary opens up a vibrant world in which Islam and fluid identities coexist, challenging preconceptions we are accustomed to in the West. This intriguing and engaging ethnographic lesson reveals correspondences between remote, ancient traditions and the most contemporary and cosmopolitan transgender issues, highlighting the deeply human aspects they share. In an era of sectarianism and divisions along every conceivable political, nationalistic, and identity-based fault line, it is the most valuable and revolutionary of discoveries.

Sergio Fant

A Distant Call, 2026
Perfected Grammar, 2024