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Jakarta Post

Summer is here! (And so are local films)

Ever wondered why there has never been a summer preview of Indonesian films during the coveted May/August time frame - unlike their Hollywood counterparts? Here's an attempt to answer that question

Nauval Yazid (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sun, May 17, 2009

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Summer is here! (And so are local films)

Ever wondered why there has never been a summer preview of Indonesian films during the coveted May/August time frame - unlike their Hollywood counterparts? Here's an attempt to answer that question.

Setting aside the complete absence of summer, theoretically speaking, making a preview of Indonesian films in the foreseeable future is as hard as predicting the weather itself. Release dates for a start are problematic as audiences only know what films are showing once they are already in cinemas.

Release dates of local films have always been an exclusive privilege of those within the film industry. Movie buffs must go to great lengths to find out this information, either from online forums or insider friends.

Furthermore, film schedules are almost always unpredictable. For every well- prepared film intentionally slotted into a specific time slot, half-baked and ill-fated horrors and action flicks like Malam Jumat Kliwon, Tiren and Liar, are thrown in to fill in the gaps. Unpredictable circumstances also stem from the fact that many local films are fast-tracked to fill in available slots. It is often the case that films are rushed through production at lightning speed.

Bearing in mind such surprises and the dominance of Hollywood blockbusters that often unfairly push local films aside, it is more than safe to present a film guide at the very last minute, one or two weeks before "summer" starts. As agreed by many people in local film circles, "summer" here is best described as "school holiday season".

Up until now, three widely promoted films are expected to air in June. Kicking off the first week is Queen Bee, a teen flick about the daughter of a presidential candidate who experiences a coming-of-age journey amid the political upheaval around her.

The film has been heavily marketed and has already become an icon largely because of its "queen bee hunt", sponsored by a local shampoo brand.

Early promotional efforts by the producers of Ketika Cinta Bertasbih (When Love Prays) included finding cast members through open auditions on national television. The reality show was, predictably, one of the most watched shows last year.

The film deals with similar themes as those in Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love), as both films are adapted from Islamic-themed romance novels and feature a man torn between two women. We hope some redemptive qualities in Ketika Cinta Bertasbih will differentiate it from Ayat-Ayat Cinta.

At the very least, was filmed in Egypt (where the story is set) and is directed by Chaerul Umam, one of Indonesia's most respected directors.

In contrast to these religious films is the horror flick Susuk Pocong. The film features a killer cast including dangdut singer Dewi Persik.

As with Anak-Anak Borobudur (Children of Borobudur) in 2007 and Liburan Seru (Fun Holiday) last year, a school holiday is not complete without a children's movie, and Garuda Di Dadaku (Garuda in My Heart) fits the bill.

The film, about a young boy's dream to become a professional soccer player, only to be challenged by his grandfather's stubborn views, is the second attempt by Mizan, a book publishing company, to venture into the film industry. The lack of local films for children, and the believable football kick shown in its trailer, will likely make this film very popular.

However, Garuda Di Dadaku may face stiff competition from the new release King. The film refers to the Indonesian badminton legend Liem Swie King, as it focuses on a young boy who idolizes Liem and hopes to be a badminton player one day. King is worth noting for being the sole entry in the even scarcer field of badminton-themed local film, despite the sport being widely favored across the nation. The film also marks the directorial debut of actor/producer Ari Sihasale, who also stars in Garuda Di Dadaku. Seeing double is a common occurrence in this industry.

While King's box office prospects are not easy to predict at this stage, a sure bet lies on Tarix Jabrix 2, to be released in July. A surprise hit when the first installment was released in April last year, the sequel is already, if not curiously being promoted on national TV as an upcoming program. Such advanced TV rights for a film not even in its pre-production stage yet is testament to the film's potential box office success.

After all, the first series propelled music group The Changcuters to fame. The least the film can do is to keep the band on everyone's radar.

Finally, at the end of the holiday, and at the start of a new school year, we celebrate Independence Day with two films expected to uplift our strong sense of nationalism: Merantau and Merah Putih.

The former is a martial arts film about a young man's coming-of-age journey. The trailer available online has provoked some strong and positive reactions, especially toward the fighting scenes, of which some people compare favorably to those in the Ong Bak series from Thailand. It doesn't hurt the film is already being tipped for an international release, and with Christine Hakim in the cast, the film will be definitely be taken notice of.

For different reasons of equal worth, Merah Putih (Red White), as the title suggests, will be the first war-themed local film to come out after years of absence from our cinemas.

The film is the first part of a trilogy about the 1940s war against the Dutch and the Japanese colonists. Early behind-the-scene stills available online suggest the film has "epic" written all over it. Renowned cinematographer Yadi Sugandi makes his directorial debut here, and given the widely rumored large production budget, the film is expected to be the talk of the nation come Aug. 17 or Independence Day that coincides with the film's release date.

While this line-up of local films may not bring down the likes of Terminator and Transformers any time soon, if Petualangan Sherina (Sherina's Adventure), a school holiday flick back in 2000, could generate more audiences than any other foreign blockbusters released at the time, it is not out of the question to hope for a sequel!

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