Director: Garin Nugroho Year: 2006 Rating: 8.0 Country:
Indonesia
This is the sort of art film that can either make you hit the floor hard
after you nod off or fall into a hypnotic jaw breaking trance. Fortunately
for my noggin, I was mesmerized by this visionary Indonesian folk opera tale
that is all told in song, dance, stunning costumes, startling images and
exotic designs. It is simply an amazing piece of work unlike anything I have
seen anyway and there are moments of such beauty and imagination that they
were transcendent. At times it is astonishingly sensual as well with dance
movements and themes that would possibly be taboo in most Indonesian films
but likely got a pass due to the artistic designs of the film plus I tend
to doubt that this had a theatrical run. It is a telling of an ancient tale
from the Hindi Ramayana - The Abduction of Sinta - that explores morality
and fidelity. The story though is brought into modern times and brings in
plot elements such as street demonstrations and corrupt businessmen. In truth
it was a bit difficult for me to follow the story at first because I was
hesitant to read the sub-titles and take my eyes off the big picture.
Previous to her marriage, Siti was a well-known dancer and interpreter of
Sinta, but after her wedding she has to settle into a traditional wife’s
role to her husband Seito. His pottery business is not going well and he
has seemingly become impotent and begins to ignore his beautiful wife. Into
this situation dances the sleazy but wealthy local businessman Ludiro who
very much desires Siti – and one scene of him hiding beneath her skirt when
the husband comes home is remarkable. Full of costumes, masks, miles of cloth,
hundreds of extra’s and endless imagination this can hold you in rapt attention
though I would be the first to admit that many may be bored to tears if this
doesn’t sound like their cup of tea. But quite honestly I was expecting to
be one of the latter and found myself held completely captive by the constant
undulating beauty of this film.
