Neuigkeiten

by Reza Mardian

Indonesian independence was not handed to us on a silver platter. Quite the contrary, our founding fathers had to proclaim independence in defiance of colonization. While many historical nationalist films focus on the drama and heroic struggles of their protagonists, M.T. Risyaf‘s “Nagabonar” takes an unconventional approach, telling this story through comedy, something not only unusual but surprisingly effective.

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Set in North Sumatra, the story follows thet titular character, a former pickpocket who has just been released from jail. He soon learns that Indonesia has declared independence in Jakarta, over 1,883 km away. However, due to its distance from the capital, North Sumatra remains under Dutch colonial threat. In an unexpected twist of fate, he rises to lead a group of independence fighters against the Netherlands.

The screenplay was written by Asrul Sani, based on his original story.

I became familiar with the work of Adam Taufiq Suharto through our ‘submit your film’ initiative, reviewing his work “Belas“, “Gelora“, “Balah Tuah“, and “Dekaden“, with another contributor covering his debut “Falasi“. These films act as an example of what makes the ‘submit your film’ process exciting for a critic, showcasing unique talent that has potential to become a defining voice in cinema. Suharto is one of the many directors through our initiative that has left that impression. The interest in his projects grew through experiencing his ability to convey deeply introspective narratives, utilizing the universally understood language of cinema, as well as a sharp visual style which can transition from serene to disquieting in a seamless fashion. With admiration for his work, I wanted to speak to Adam Taufiq Suharto to better understand his process and thoughts on film. Suharto was also shortlisted in our annual list of best...