Surak Kuantan: Representing the Cultural Identity of the Kuantan Singingi Community through Documentary Film

Abstract

The documentary film Surak Kuantan portrays the cultural identity of the Kuantan Singingi community by centering its narrative on pacu jalur, a traditional longboat race that symbolizes collective pride and togetherness. Beginning with the community’s preparations, the film illustrates how every stage of the tradition from selecting sacred wood for the boat to collaborative rowing practices reflects deeply rooted social values and spiritual beliefs. This study employs an ethnographic and documentary analysis to examine how the film constructs meaning through visual composition, symbolic elements, musical arrangement, and cinematographic choices. The results indicate that the documentary does more than depict the tradition; it demonstrates the community’s strong intergenerational involvement, highlights the spiritual significance attached to each ritual, and showcases how teamwork serves as the core of cultural resilience. The film is found to effectively preserve local heritage, reinforce communal identity, and provide an accessible medium for transmitting cultural knowledge. Ultimately, Surak Kuantan emerges not only as a visual archive but also as a narrative of cultural continuity that connects historical practices with contemporary forms of expression.