Nusa Ina

Nusa Ina tells the moving story of Loey Tamaëla, son of a Moluccan KNIL serviceman. In 1951, the first Moluccans arrived in the Netherlands, expecting to return home within months. Loey himself came in 1962 as a child, but like many others, his return never happened. Seventy-five years after that first arrival, Loey’s story of uprooting, struggle, and longing for Nusa Ina (the motherland) is more relevant than ever. 

The documentary traces Loey’s personal fight for recognition of the Republic of the South Moluccas, a cause that unites generations of Moluccans. Intimate family footage and his own words bring the emotional toll of displacement to life, revealing how a life between two cultures takes shape and how hope for return slowly gives way to a new reality. 

Nusa Ina is more than a historical portrait; it’s a universal story of identity and belonging. In this anniversary year, marking 75 years of Moluccan presence in the Netherlands, the film offers a poignant insight into the human stories behind major historicalevents. A compelling and necessary watch for anyone seeking to understand how the past continues to shape the present.