Arisan!

Arisan! arrived when public had become jaded with Indonesian films. After a string of trashy horror and fluffy teen flicks, Arisan! came as an adult-oriented drama/comedy which bravely tackled issues never before seen in Indonesian cinema: the lives of upper-class people and gays and succeeded in both attempts.

The film would have been ordinary if not for the well-written script which shows wit, intelligent, and honesty. This is a work from the heart. Considered as the best Indonesian film ever made and arguably so.

Indonesian native speakers will agree that the dialogs are wonderful and sounds very real, unlike ALL Indonesian films which speaks like textbook.

Not without flaws (the editing feels choppy at times) but the script manages to sidesteps all clichés.

Other than the actors "sometimes" talks stuttered, & a "not so good" sound (especially when the actor "Surya Saputra" talking, cos he's lips looked barely moved, I really couldn't understand What he was saying, thank God, before I bought the VCD, I already saw it in the theater) It's refreshing to have a well made movie from Indonesia,& an added bonus cos it has a clever dialog that you don't see in other "cliche" Indonesian movie. It also break the Dogma that a good Indonesian movies, is the one with a traditional, classical artsy movie, with a longgggggggg dialog & scene. Don't get me wrong, I still like those kind of movies, but sometimes the Director is a bit selfish, to make movie that only good in visual & difficult dialog but not enjoyable for the audiences.

Plizzzz, Indonesian film maker, make more movies like this.

Witty,fresh,very daily style... Represented some indonesian life style....in some spots....But two thumbs up for this first gay themed with kissing scene.Especially if we think about muslim majority people.Two thumbs up for Director Nia Dinata and Tora Sudiro who played as gay man, Good work you guys

Exiting times in Indonesia! two Indonesian films defeate the 3rd movie in 'The Matrix' Trilogy. But the one that everyone's eyes are at is 'Arisan!'. 3 Close friends live a normal life, that is, at first look. After a while we see them strugle with unhappiness in different forms. Meimei hears from her Doctor that she won't be able to become pregnant and sees her husband run away. Andien's husband slept with someone else, and Sakti -who is gay- is afraid that his mother or best friend Meimei might find out that he is.

Well, she finds out, but in a way he never imagined she would.

This film is the first BIG HIT in Indonesia where it is all about 'coming out'. Sakti and Nino will learn that in modern Indonesia, being gay is as normal as in other countries (far from the reality, but common in some areas of Indonesia).

Screaming girls in the cinema when Sakti and Nino first kiss. No sensor in Indosia, and that is surprising!!

Over all, this film is not only good because it doesn't show any stereo type Indonesian gays (mostly transsexuals or overacting feminate gays), but two people like everone else. It is also a film technically quite good, although the editing could have been better.

Two thumbs up for Arisan!

The life of hedonism people in big city like Jakarta always fill with brand minded,Sex after lunch and dirty talk.When all the housewives,career women and young mommy are being together,everything is all about something "adult material contents".In ARisan!Nia Dinata discover all of it.The Honest,The truth and the reality.Things that never been thought before,nowadays just become "the usual behavior" of socialite high-class mothers and women.The great,exceptional and smart directing by NYU alumni Nia Dinata made this one as the best and most favourite comedy-drama ever.Even this movie got award for "the best movie of 2004" by FFI(Indonesian Film Festival).Cut Mini Theo showed her great talented as Memey,a confusing career smart woman.Tora Sudiro gave his stunning and incredible performance as Sakti,A gay city worker.And Aida Nurmala seems looks so unbelievable-excellent act ever played by newcomer as Andien,a desperate glamour housewife.However,Whenever and Whatever the days you'll be through it,spend your time for a while to watch this movie.Cause,It's the most important movie of all time.It's about city life,It's about socialite and it's about you...I give grade 10 of 10.Viva Arisan!