Daftarsbmptn.com – A group of students from Petra Christian University (UK Petra) presented a documentary film highlighting the blind spots of social issues in the City of Heroes. Through a humanistic visual approach and in-depth field research, the students sought to open up public discussion on issues that have previously been overlooked.
The documentary is a collaborative project across study programs, bringing together students from Communication Studies, Visual Communication Design, and Literature. They addressed the themes of unequal access to education, the problem of dense settlements along riverbanks, and the stigma against vulnerable groups in several urban villages in Surabaya.
The project’s director, a final-semester student, explained that the idea for the film arose from a concern about the contrast between Surabaya’s metropolitan image and the social realities that are not always visible in public spaces.
“Surabaya is often promoted as a modern and investment-friendly city. But behind that, there are still fundamental issues that are rarely addressed in depth,” he said at the premiere in the campus auditorium.
The film’s production process took approximately three months. The team conducted observations and interviews with residents, community leaders, and social activists. They also engaged with local communities to ensure the perspectives presented were unbiased and rooted in the residents’ experiences. This participatory approach is a key strength of the documentary.
In one segment, the film depicts the story of a family living in a densely populated area with limited access to sanitation. The visuals are not sensational, but instead emphasize humanity and hope. The narrative is constructed reflectively, inviting the audience to understand the complexity of the problem without judgment. The project’s supervisor described this work as a concrete example of students’ role in carrying out the social function of higher education.
“Students not only learn theory, but also directly observe reality and process it into impactful work,” he said. He hopes the film will become a topic of discussion in academic and community spaces.
The student team plans to include the film in national documentary film festivals beyond internal screenings. They are also exploring collaborations with communities and non-governmental organizations to hold screenings and public discussions at various locations in Surabaya.
The audience response at the premiere screening was positive. Many said they were touched and became aware of issues they had previously overlooked. One student in the audience said the film opened a new perspective on the meaning of inclusive urban development.
“We often see physical development, but forget about human development,” he said.
This documentary also reflects the strategic role that young people play in voicing social issues through creative media. In today’s digital age, film is not just entertainment, but also an effective advocacy tool for building empathy and public awareness.
Going forward, UK Petra students hope their work can foster dialogue between the public, academics, and policymakers. By highlighting blind spots on social issues, they want to ensure that urban development does not leave vulnerable groups behind and that every citizen has a space to be heard.
Through this documentary, UK Petra students demonstrate that campuses are not just places to gain knowledge, but also spaces for responding critically and constructively to social realities. Their work serves as a reminder that major change often begins with the courage to see and highlight things that have been hidden.