The film has aspects of a road movie, interspersed with shots at Toer's house. It discusses the sacrifices made by the native population during the road's construction, but also exposes the lack of freedom and the rampant corruption of modern-day Indonesia.
This film interweaves themes of a road movie with scenes set at Toer's residence, exploring the hardships faced by native communities due to the road's construction while also revealing the limitations on individual liberty and the pervasive corruption that exists within contemporary Indonesia.