印尼獨立後第一部國家電影，資金和製作全部來自印尼，電影拍攝的第一天更定為印尼電影日，代表性可想而知。電影關於印尼軍長征，軍隊按命令返回他們的基地，Sudarto上尉帶領著軍隊和平民離開，但路途遙遠，加上飢餓和敵方的空襲威脅， 過程歷盡艱辛，故事完於1948年的茉莉芬事件，長征亦於1950 年印尼共和國取得主權而結束。作為軍人的男主角原則上是反戰的，因為這意味內戰展開，片中沒有刻意塑造完美的英雄形象，Sudarto雖然知道妻子在家守候他平安歸來，但征途中依然 與兩個女子有染，他亦經常表現得懷疑。導演Usmar Ismail曾經當兵，後轉為拍電影，他通過本片帶出這次革命蠶食了印尼的下一代。

Considered the first ““national” Indonesian film, The Long March has earned a lasting legacy for its historical subject matter and its support of Indonesian identity. During the throes of the Indonesian National Revolution, Captain Sudarto (Del Juzar), leader of the Silwangi Division of the Indonesian army, must lead his soldiers – along with a group of women and children – on a 200 kilometer-long march to West Java. But the march is perilous, as attacks from Dutch forces and their own internal strife threaten the journey to safety. Known as the “father of Indonesian film”, director Usmar Ismail endured numerous hardships – including technical difficulties, dwindling finances and finally censorship – to bring The Long March to the screen.