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‘Athirah’ ready for international audience
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A still from "Athirah". (youtube.com/c/milesfilms/File)
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em>Athirah, the movie inspired by Vice President Jusuf Kalla’s mother, is expected to attract large audiences due to its inspiring story and the noted filmmakers involved, namely Riri Riza and Mira Lesmana.
Set in the Makassar, South Sulawesi, of yesteryear it follows an optimistic woman who struggles to keep her family together after her husband, a respected and renowned community figure, decides to marry another woman. In addition to showcasing the region's culture and traditions, Athirah also highlights meaningful rituals, such as the importance of dining together with one’s family and how a story can be held together by something as simple as a sarong.
Actress Cut Mini, who plays Athirah, said she spent two months of intensive reading with director Riri Riza as a way to better her focus on the character. “I had to learn more about the language, especially the dialect,” she said.
(Read also: Movie about Jusuf Kalla's mother to premiere soon)
Producer Mira Lesmana said the movie offered a different take on a biopic. “It's not the same movie as, say Rudi Habibie or Soekarno. Even if viewers don't know that this movie is about Athirah, or the fact that Athirah is Jusuf Kalla’s mother, I think this film will still 'speak' for itself,” she said.
Kalla himself, who attended the gala premiere of Athirah on Monday alongside his wife Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, said it was difficult for a movie to fully describe reality, but he believed it still contains an important message. “The essence of life,” he said. “That we can solve disappointment with passion and hard work.”
Jusuf's daughters, Muswirah Jusuf Kalla, Imelda "Eda" Jusuf Kalla and Chairani "Ade" Jusuf Kalla, agreed that the movie only showed a small part of their grandmother’s life. “But we are satisfied, happy and moved [with the result],” said Eda. “The movie is both beautiful and poetic.”
“I have heard many stories about my grandmother. They say that she was very patient and never got angry,” Ade said, adding that Athirah, who passed away when she was two years old, was usually called "Mamak Aji". “My mother told me that Mamak Aji was the best mother-in-law in the world.”
Scheduled to premiere in local cinemas on Sept. 29, Athirah is slated to be screened in several international festivals this year, including those in Vancouver, Canada; Busan, South Korea; and Tokyo, Japan. (kes)
